The Hindu 21.09.2009
Modern toilet complexes soon
Staff Reporter
To cost a crore, each complex will be one of a kind
NEW DELHI: The face of toilet complexes in the city is all set for a makeover. They will be converted into swank new modern complexes complete with coffee shops, fast food joints and flower shops if all goes well as per MCD plans to change the concept of public toilets in the city.
As per a project developed by the Remunerative Project Cell of the civic body, about 1,000 such complexes would be made ready for the city in a phased manner over the next eight months, in time for the Commonwealth Games to be held in the Capital next year. About 60 per cent of these toilets would be new, while the rest would be redeveloped versions of the existing public toilets in the city.
According to the civic body, the first such complex would come up at Kailash Colony on a pilot basis before being extended to other markets.
A senior MCD official: “We are beautifying the city for the Commonwealth Games, setting up new kiosk and community centres but the only thing lacking was world class public toilets as the existing ones were just not up to the mark and lacked even basic security. The new toilets, however, will be one of a kind, fully secure and affordable making Delhiites proud of it.”
To be built at a cost of about Rs.1 crore per toilet complex, the salient features of the complex include a state-of-the-art toilet with a nappy changing room, make-up room for ladies and condom vending machines among other things.
It has been designed with a eating joint or coffee shop on top of the complex to ensure that the toilet is maintained while providing advertising and retail revenue to the toilet complex developers under the public-private partnership model. These complexes would be maintained by the developers for 20 years.
The official said: “This proposal would be tabled for approval at the Standing Committee meeting after about 20 days. Following the approval and the time for tendering, the project should finally begin in the next three months. We are through with the feasibility study and are working on the technical study in each market in tie-up with the retailers.”
“We are going to rope in nobody less than a reputed multi-national company for this project. A lot of ideas have gone into designing this toilet complex with a team of 23 designers and five agencies working on it,” he added.
The public would have to shell out Rs.2 for use of these toilets while regular users would have the option of using a toilet card as well.
