Mumbai: CSMT and Thane railway station to get AC toilets soon

Air-conditioned toilets will soon be operational at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Thane railway station. Govandi railway station too will get a luxury toilet. The Central Railway has taken up the issue of dirty station toilets in two phases. In the first stage, the railways have taken the task of cleaning the toilets and addressing foul odour experienced inside the toilet blocks at railway stations.

In the second phase, the CR authorities are reconstructing the toilets wherever needed, and a few are air-conditioned. Two new to join the list are CSMT and Thane.

"We are also taking up the challenge of changing faces of toilets at stations like Govandi where the situation is pathetic. We are building luxury toilets which shall have all amenities one would find in high-end hotels," said a senior CR official.

At present, the toilet blocks at these stations are heavily used. In a bid to improve their condition, they will soon be air-conditioned. For this, they are already in touch with specialised agencies that maintain toilets. 

"The deluxe toilet at Kurla station, normally goes unused. The slum dwellers in nearby areas, who are frequent visitors, are responsible for its untidiness," said Subhash Gupta, president of Rail Yatri Sangh and a resident of Kurla.

The CR authorities are also entering into a memorandum of understanding with agencies that would take care of toilet blocks at stations like Vangani, Ulhasnagar, Badlapur and Ambernath. Currently, apart from pay and use toilets, the others are badly maintained. At times, even pay and use toilets are found to be dirty and stinky.

For this reason, the rail authorities claim that they are going for cosmetic change with the help of industrial cleaning agents, air fresheners and other things at all stations. A detailed inspection will be carried out by the railway officials of these toilet premises where the condition of tiles, faucets, taps, pipeline, water connection, exhaust, lights etc would be inspected.

They are also hoping to get WhatsApp and social media feedback from people. The Central and Western Railways have taken up the mammoth task of cleaning up 187 toilets across Mumbai suburban stations that is used by 80 lakh people daily. The CR has 117 toilet blocks, while the WR has 75 toilet blocks. Majority of stations in Mumbai will have the facility for Divyang (physically challenged) commuters by this month end.

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The CR authorities are also entering into a memorandum of understanding with agencies that would take care of toilet blocks at various stations in the suburbs