Package deal: All bus stops to come with loos soon

Bengaluru: Urinating in public places is rampant in various parts of the city and in addition to unbearable stench, it also poses a serious health hazard. One of the reasons cited for this obnoxious practice is lack of adequate toilet facilities across the city, especially for those commuting long distances by buses.

In an attempt to put an end to this menace, the BBMP is planning to design bus shelters cum public toilets at 550 different locations. However, critics point out that if these toilets are not properly maintained, then commuters may even avoid using bus shelters.

According to BBMP sources, the city has 587 public toilets across the city and the number is inadequate vis-à-vis the floating population across the city. Over 50 lakh people commute by buses throughout the city and it is this section that badly needs toilet facilities.

The BBMP has been getting complaints of people urinating at open places like walls, street corners, vacant sites, near transformers, parks and even playgrounds. It has plans to construct 2,212 bus stands and it was decided to incorporate toilets and its maintenance in the tender clause, sources said.

The successful contractor gets to maintain the toilet for twenty years. The contractor will get right to display advertisements on the bus shelter. He is also expected to pay Rs 40,000 per annum towards ground rent.