Mumbai
21st August 2025 : The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
(BMC) has long held up its public toilet network as a testament to its
commitment to sanitation and citizen welfare. Yet, a recent on-the-ground
investigation reveals a disturbing reality: a systematic exploitation of
Mumbaikars, particularly women’s, by contractors who are openly flouting civic
body rules and regulations, all while the authorities seem to be turning a
blind eye.
The public toilets, intended to be a
free-of-cost service for a city grappling with limited open spaces, have been
transformed into a "Pay-and-Use" racket, where contractors are
demanding exorbitant fees, particularly for a service that, as per BMC's own
guidelines, should be free.
The Human Urgency: A Moment of
Crisis
Beyond the broken rules and
regulations lies a far more critical issue: the human situation. Imagine a
person in the throes of a biological emergency. For a normal human being, the
sudden, urgent need to urinate is a moment of singular focus. All conversations,
all distractions, all good or bad news fades into the background. The only
thought is to find a toilet, and quickly. The mental stress in that moment is a
powerful, primal urge. You are not a customer; you are a person in a state of
distress, seeking immediate relief.
Now, consider a person with a
medical condition like diabetes. Frequent urination is a common symptom, and
the urgency can be unpredictable and intense. The need is not just a mild
inconvenience; it is a physiological command that cannot be ignored. The body
is in a state of stress, and the mind is entirely preoccupied with finding a
solution.
This is the state of being when a
person rushes to a public toilet, their body and mind screaming for a basic,
private moment of relief. But instead of an open door, they are met with a
contractor, a human barrier to a fundamental need. "First pay, then
enter," is the cold, unsympathetic demand.
The Trauma of a Transactional
Emergency
The mental and physical trauma in
that instant is immeasurable. The sudden halt, the demand for money, the
negotiation, the anger-it all compounds the existing physiological stress. The
person's health, already under strain, can be further impacted by this mental
trauma. What should be a quick and seamless process becomes a moment of
conflict and humiliation. The anger, the frustration, the feeling of being
"looted" at one's most vulnerable moment-it's a recipe for a complete
mental breakdown.
This is not a simple transaction for
a cup of tea or a snack. This is the monetizing of a basic human need, and it
is being done in a way that is not only illegal but also psychologically
damaging.
The Law vs. The Loot
According to the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) own "Memorandum of Understanding" with
Community Based Organizations (CBOs) for the operation and maintenance of
public toilets, a critical clause explicitly states: "urinal facility
shall be provided free of cost." This is the fundamental tenet of the
city's sanitation policy, designed to prevent open urination and ensure public
hygiene. The BMC's own policy for its toilets dictates a
"pay-and-use" model for the use of latrines and bathing facilities,
but urinals are a public good, meant to be free.
However, the ground reality is a
complete betrayal of this principle.
At the public toilet in D-Ward, near
the Marine Drive Chowpatty Police Bite Chowky, a contractor is brazenly
charging Rs. 10/- by (Cash/UPI) without receipt for women to use the urinal.
This is not just a breach of contract; it is an act of defiance against a
policy meant to provide a basic dignity to citizens. The justification for
these public facilities is that no one should be forced to urinate in open spaces.
By monetizing this essential service, contractors are effectively making it a
choice between paying a steep price or resorting to public urination, which is
a punishable offense under BMC’s own bylaws.
The problem is not confined to civic
body-run toilets. It extends to the facilities on railway property, where the
rules should also be aligned with the public's right to sanitation. At Dadar
railway station, a major interchange for both Central and Western Railway
commuters, the contractor operating the toilet on the bridge is charging Rs. 5
to ladies and Rs. 2 to gents. While railway rules may differ but it comes under
BMC, the principle of affordable and accessible sanitation remains paramount.
The question is, where is the oversight from the railway authorities and is
there any coordination with the BMC to ensure uniform and fair pricing?
even at all Central, Harbar and Western
Railway platform you can see same operation.
The Unanswered Questions
The blatant disregard for
established rules raises serious questions about the accountability of public
officials. Who is responsible for the periodic inspection of these facilities?
Are the D-Ward Assistant Commissioner and the Solid Waste Management Department
officials aware of this exploitation? Do they have a mechanism for regular
audits of these pay-and-use facilities?
An overhaul of the system is
urgently needed. The BMC must take immediate and decisive action against these
errant contractors. The contracts of those found in violation of the "free
urinal" rule should be terminated without delay. Furthermore, a clear,
standardized tariff for all public toilets-both BMC and railway-run-must be
displayed prominently at every facility.
The BMC must not only penalize the
contractors but also hold accountable the officers who have failed in their
duty to enforce the law. The residents of Mumbai deserve a transparent and
accountable system, where access to basic sanitation is not a source of profit
but a fundamental right. It is time for the BMC to step up and prove that its
commitment to Swachh Bharat is more than just a slogan on paper. The general
public is being looted, and the responsibility to stop this offence rests
squarely with the authorities.
The Unspoken Haptas: Where the
Money Trail Ends
While the immediate culprits are the
contractors on the ground, the rot extends far deeper into the system. It is an
open secret in Mumbai that public toilet contracts are not awarded based on
merit alone. The process is often a nexus of political influence and
corruption. Contractors who secure these lucrative contracts are often backed
by local corporators, MLAs, MP’s or even influential political figures. This
political patronage serves a dual purpose: it guarantees the contract and, more
insidiously, provides cover for the contractor to flout rules. In return, a
portion of the illicit earnings-the "hafta" or monthly extortion-is
paid to the very political workers and officials who are supposed to be
enforcing the rules. This creates a vicious cycle where a small-time
contractor, eager to make a profit, is forced into a system of corruption, and
the authorities, compromised by their own greed, ignore the very violations
they are meant to prevent. This systemic corruption is the true reason why
complaints go unheard and rules are openly broken, with the common citizen
ultimately paying the price, both literally and figuratively.
