Soon, multi-storey toilet complexes

Mumbai: Mumbai, which is witnessing a spurt in high-rises, will also now see multi-storey toilet complexes soon. Faced with space crunch, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to build three-storey community toilets, which will increase the number of toilet seats in the city by 18,000.

The civic body will form a special cell headed by deputy chief engineer (Slum Sanitation Programme) to facilitate the construction of multi-storey toilets. They will be constructed at places where there is greater demand for community toilets.

Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said, “To overcome the shortage of space, we have decided to construct multi-storey toilets in the city. Earlier the BMC used to construct only ground storey toilets. According to demand, two or three storey toilets will now be constructed, which will increase the number of toilet seats by 18,000.”

According to civic officials, currently the city has a ratio of one toilet seat for every 70 people in the city. With the construction of 18,000 toilets seats, the BMC plans to bring down the ratio to one seat for every 30 people.

The important feature of these multi-storey toilets will be a special section for kids and disabled people. “Toilets with a trough and squatting platform will be built for children and the disabled,” said a senior civic official.

The toilets will be equipped with water and electricity connections. Where it is not possible to connect them to sewer lines, septic tanks will be provided, said civic officials.

Tenders for the construction of multi-storey toilets will be floated soon. After bidder is finalised, work orders will be given by January next year, they said.