Seven beaches in Mumbai to get loos

The toilets will have 7 seats each. Representation pic

Seven beaches in the city are set to become more visitor-friendly with the civic body planning to install prefabricated toilets there. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will install 27 7-seat toilets with solar panels at a cost of Rs 3.20 crore. Though the city was declared open defecation free in July 2017, it still remains a common sight, especially at the beaches, due to lack of public toilets.

"The BMC received ODF plus status and now we are trying to go for ODF++ status which requires additional services on various levels. This initiative is part of it," said an official from the solid waste management department. He added that the National Green Tribunal has instructed the corporation to install toilets on beaches where there is a possibility of open defecation.

As per the details, in each prefabricated toilet, there are three separate entrances for women, men and disabled persons. There will be three seats each for women and men and one for disabled people. Dadar/Mahim and Juhu beaches will get eight seven-seat toilets each while Versova will get five, and Girgaon, Madh/Marve and Manori-Gorai will get two toilets each.

The BMC will pay Rs 11.06 lakh per toilet and additional Rs 81,000 for installation of solar system of 2 kW capacity. The corporation had already placed bio-toilets near beaches and seashores, but they always remained overloaded due to a large number of tourists. The corporation cannot construct toilets on beaches due to CRZ and various environmental rules.

Rs 3.2cr
Estimaed cost of building the toilet blocks