Thiruvananthapuram: The corporation has drawn up a comprehensive plan to upgrade public toilets across the city, including e-toilets, following sustained public complaints about poor hygiene and maintenance. The move comes after the city scored zero for public toilet cleanliness in the Swachh Survekshan 2023, putting civic authorities under pressure to take immediate corrective steps. Mayor V V Rajesh has directed senior officials to prepare a detailed list of all functional public toilets to help prioritize urgent repairs. Sources said the list will be finalized this week and will cover both conventional public toilets and automated e-toilets, which were introduced to improve user convenience and reduce manual maintenance. “Public toilets are essential civic infrastructure and their present condition is unacceptable to both residents and visitors. For example, the toilets at the busy East Fort area are unusable, forcing commuters to rely on facilities in nearby restaurants and hotels,” said Sunil Padmanabhan, an elderly resident. A corporation official said the issue would be addressed on priority. “We are committed to refurbishing all facilities, ensuring regular maintenance, and making them hygienic and safe for public use. He said work on the list will begin immediately, and progress reports will be submitted to the governing council once the mayor and councillors return from their scheduled visit to New Delhi,” he said. Most public toilets in the city are currently maintained by Kudumbashree workers, while some are operated by private contractors. However, residents have long complained about irregular cleaning, inadequate water supply, poor lighting and damaged fixtures, which have rendered many facilities unusable. The corporation also plans to form an inspection squad to monitor upkeep. The team will conduct regular visits to ensure cleanliness, availability of water, functioning lights and doors and overall usability. Officials said the initiative aims not only to improve cleanliness but also to enhance accessibility and user comfort. While e-toilets were introduced as a modern solution, similar facilities in several cities have fallen into disrepair due to poor maintenance. The city’s poor performance in public toilet hygiene was a major factor in its low overall ranking in the Swachh Survekshan, a nationwide cleanliness assessment conducted by the Union govt. Citizen feedback has consistently pointed oout dissatisfaction, with many people avoiding public toilets due to hygiene concerns. The governing council will finalise action plan after Delhi visit, detailing timelines, budget and community participation in public toilet maintenance.
