BMC’s attempt to construct Bandra toilet hits roadblock

The BMC’s venture to construct public toilets has hit yet another roadblock, this time due to resistance from the railways. Citing the need of a public toilet in the area outside Bandra station on the east side, the BMC recently decided to reconstruct a demolished toilet.

The Railways had demolished the existing toilet at the spot was demolished by on March 18. Sources in the BMC said that the Railways claimed the toilet was unauthorised and illegal, as it was constructed on property belonging to the Railways, without anyone taking permission or informing the concerned railway authorities.

Meanwhile, BMC maintained that as per the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’s mission director’s statement, toilets are a must for any city and they can be constructed on land belonging to other government agencies, without necessarily seeking their permission.

Following this deadlock in March, the BMC sought to reconstruct the toilet later in May, citing that the area needed a public toilet. It informed the Railways and the latter asked the BMC to postpone its construction as the approval in the matter was pending with the Railway Board.

Meanwhile, BMC sources said the Railway Board has requested the civic body to find another spot for the toilet, as such construction on the railway property may create bottlenecks and cause inconvenience.

The BMC plans to continue pursuing the matter with the Railways. The DRM of Western Railways, Mukul Jain, remained unavailable for comment.

Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the BMC has undertaken a drive to conduct public toilets in the city, to meet with the deficit of access to toilets faced by Mumbaikars.