Acting on a MiD DAY report about filthy toilets at stations, railway authorities have launched a massive clean-up drive and the results are out there for all to see

The filth, stench and dirt that are common phenomena at restrooms on the suburban railway network could soon be things of the past. Following a series of campaigns by MiD DAY, the railway authorities have launched a drive to clean-up and maintain the toilets at stations across both the central and western lines.

During MiD DAY's campaign, we found that the dirtiest toilet on the Central network was at Vidyavihar station. And, on revisiting the station, we found that not only was the toilet cleaned up but it also had attendants.


The ladies' toilet at Nahur station was cleaned up and an attendant was present at the gate

In addition, contracts for maintenance at 17 stations, including Vidyavihar, Dadar TT, Currey Road, Thane, Matunga, etc, have been given to Sulabh.

Vinit Kumar, Dy General Manager, WR, said, "The railways is doing all it can to ensure the cleanliness of the toilets.

We are requesting and appealing to the passengers to help us in our endeavour. We are trying our best to improve the standard of cleanliness."

Clean-up drive

Central Railway authorities have issued strict instructions to stationmasters to ensure that the toilets are clean and well maintained.

"Initially, the cleaning was not done regularly. But now special instructions have been given to all the contractors and respective stationmasters to follow the instructions and clean the toilets.

The stationmaster can hire temporary staff to clean the toilets with the impressed money allotted to them," said an official from CR.

During the campaign, we discovered that several toilets at stations were locked, and the keys were to be collected from the stationmaster's cabin.

Lock and key

"We follow this system as we have been getting too many complaints of people misusing the ladies' toilets, especially at small stations.

But now, we have placed a contractor and the responsibility is with the stationmaster," said an official.

The stationmasters of bigger stations like CST, Dadar, Thane, Kalyan are given an impressed amount of Rs 25,000, and smaller stations are given lesser amount depending on the passenger's mobility from that station.
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The impressed allowance of smaller stations has been doubled keeping in mind the need of the hour.

"We try to clean the toilets on a regular basis but with lakhs of passengers travelling everyday and using the toilets, it becomes impossible for us to keep them clean all the time," said a senior railway official, on condition of anonymity.

The Western Railway has deluxe toilets at the Bandra Terminus and Andheri (W) railway stations, and has floated tenders for deluxe toilets at other stations as well.
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This includes Dadar (W), Andheri (E), Borivli, Bhayender, Vasai and Virar. In addition, 11 toilets, including those at Vile Parle and Santacruz stations, have been renovated.

Sharat Chandrayan, Chief PRO, said, "We are in the process of improvement. We are also trying to take help from professional agencies."

Readers' response

MiD DAY is doing a laudable service by focusing on problems faced at airports, railway terminals, state transport bus depots etc. I think you must also cover issues that passengers face at BEST bus depots. Bus stations at Juhu, Kurla station (W) and Nehru Nagar lack basic facilities. I request MiD DAY to help resolve these issues
as well.
R P Baji Dombivli