Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) expanded its public toilet management programme across the city by rolling out free toilet and dressing room facilities at 474 locations. The civic body said the newly operational facilities together provide 5,176 seats and aim to improve access to safe and hygienic sanitation, especially in densely populated and high footfall areas.The corporation brought into use 214 new toilets with 1,905 seats this month, in addition to the 260 toilets with 3,271 seats that were established last year. The project focuses on providing clean, safe and accessible sanitation infrastructure in public areas in the city.
“The toilets have been designed with adequate ventilation, lighting and weather protection, and include special features to support senior citizens, children, persons with disabilities and transgender users. The facilities are open to the public free of cost. Each unit is maintained by dedicated staff deployed on rotation, with regular cleaning schedules in place,” said a senior GCC official. The official added that sanitation workers were provided gloves, masks, footwear and other protective gear, along with training in safety protocols, chemical handling and personal hygiene practices.To improve accountability and service quality, QR codes were installed at the facilities to enable users to submit feedback and complaints. The complaints are logged and addressed within a fixed time frame, with status updates shared with users.The corporation set a target to scale up the scheme to 1,262 locations with 10,437 seats by the end of June. Surveys are underway to identify additional sites, including parks and burial grounds, based on public need. Residents can also request new toilet facilities in their areas through the GCC helpline 1913.“Hardly any toilets are maintained well in the city. The civic body is least bothered to ensure that they are actually usable,” said J K Krishnakumar, a resident of George Town.
