The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has put forward a proposal to introduce a ₹1 fee for the use of public urinals in Mumbai, which are currently free of charge. Additionally, the BMC has suggested raising the cost for washrooms from ₹2 to ₹5 and for bathing facilities from ₹5 to ₹10. This proposal has been submitted to civic group leaders and comes in response to concerns from operators of the city’s 846 public pay-and-use toilet complexes regarding escalating maintenance costs.

At present, the public can access urinals without any charge, while washrooms and bathing facilities are priced at ₹2 and ₹5, respectively. If the proposal is approved, it would mark the first instance of a charge being levied for urinal use. The new rates are expected to alleviate some of the financial burdens faced by operators managing these facilities.

Reasons Behind the Proposed Hike

The BMC has attributed the proposed increase to the rising operational expenses encountered by private agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) responsible for managing public toilet complexes established by the BMC. A senior BMC official explained that while the toilets are developed by the civic body, the ongoing management falls to private entities. These operators are responsible for various costs, including cleaning, maintenance, and repairs, which have been rising significantly.

According to the BMC, the increased charges would enable operators to cover their growing maintenance costs. The additional revenue generated from these revised rates would be retained by the agencies managing the facilities. An official noted that the surplus from the increased rates would assist operators in managing their financial challenges.

Moreover, the BMC is contemplating a new policy aimed at the reconstruction, renovation, and repair of existing public toilets, as well as the establishment of new facilities. Senior officials have indicated that this policy will incorporate digital monitoring systems and a framework for addressing public complaints. The revised charges are anticipated to apply specifically to public pay-and-use toilet complexes.

Concerns Over Sanitation Accessibility

The proposed increase in charges has raised concerns regarding the accessibility of sanitation facilities, particularly for economically disadvantaged groups who depend on these services for their daily needs. Activists have voiced their apprehensions about the implications of such hikes on public health and hygiene.

Sitaram Shelar, convenor of the citizens’ collective Pani Haq Samiti, expressed that ensuring access to sanitation is a fundamental duty of municipal authorities. He highlighted that managing public health and providing sanitation facilities is a key responsibility of the municipal government, as outlined in the Constitution’s 74th Amendment. Shelar pointed out that, despite water and sanitation being among the most profitable departments of the BMC, operators of public toilets are currently facing financial losses due to high commercial charges for utilities.

Shelar further argued that if citizens are unable to access sanitation facilities without charge, it reflects a failure on the part of the municipal government. The concerns raised by activists underline the need for a careful consideration of the proposed fee increases and their potential impact on vulnerable populations in Mumbai.

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