Union ministry wants loos to be set up in paid areas of stations
File picture of Chennai metro
Chennai: It is an experience many a metro rail and bus travellers in the city would have gone through — gawking at fellow passengers for a while and reluctantly approaching a stranger to finally enquire about the nearest loo while waiting for a train/bus on the platform/terminus. That agony to answer the call of the nature could soon end at metro rail stations at least.
The Union urban development ministry has instructed metros across the country to provide toilets in paid areas in all its stations. A circular sent by the MRTS cell of Union ministry of urban development to managing directors of all metros on July 22, 2015, has instructed them to compulsorily provide toilets in paid areas of all ‘proposed’ metro stations.
Perhaps anticipating excuses of economic nature from the metro operators, the circular has also instructed the MDs to include toilets in the original project and cover its cost. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), one of the recipients of the circular, has included toilets in paid areas in all its underground stations under construction. Pertinently, three of the seven overhead stations on the already commissioned Koyambedu-Alandur elevated corridor have toilets in paid areas already.
“Since elevated stations were designed much ahead of the circular, it is not easy to provide toilets in the paid areas of already constructed stations now. Modifications are possible, but we have not thought of it at present,” a CMRL officer said. The circular will be adhered to and toilets included in all stations in the next stage of Chennai metro, which is still in stage of formulation.
Though metros world over do not largely have toilets in paid areas as the commute is meant to be short and travelers are only expected to spend very little time at the stations, Chennai metro was the probably the first in the country to provide toilets in paid areas.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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