Metro travellers have to pay for using toilets

 HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Metro Rail began charging those using toilets, after handing over the maintenance work to Sulabh International. They will be charged Rs 2 for using urinals and Rs 5 for toilets, a senior official said.

There was a mixed reaction from commuters. Many said that the toilets in Metro Rail stations were shabby and their maintenance dismal. They were hopeful that as they would now be paying for it, there could be better service and cleanliness.

Some slammed the decision while contending that they are already paying premium charges towards travel. They said that the Metro Rail should provide better amenities, within the ticket fare.

Metro Rail officials opined that the decision to hand over maintenance of toilets will ensure sanitised toilets and urinals at the stations.

Alapati Kaushik, a management student, said, “These amenities should be free of charge. I recently travelled to Chennai. When I travelled from the stadium to Chennai Central I found that the fare was reasonable compared to our Metro.”

Santosh Kumar, an IT employee, said “It is a right decision. By paying we can get better services as most of the metro toilets are not up to the mark.”