On Thursday morning, mid-day’s report on the deplorable condition of toilets at Mulund Railway Station went viral, forcing authorities into immediate action. By noon, all toilets were cleaned, with photographs of the fresh facilities circulating widely. While the swift response is commendable, it exposes a deeper issue: the Railways proudly announce upgrades like escalators and lifts, yet fail to maintain the most basic amenity — clean toilets.

The Mulund case shows how action comes only after media reports. For over three months, toilets remained filthy just steps away from the station manager’s cabin. The maintenance tender had expired, no new contractor was appointed, and the manager failed to escalate the matter. Only after media exposure did staff scramble to act.