Thiruvananthapuram: Four free electronic toilets at the Govt Museum and Zoo premises have remained out of service for more than a month after rats allegedly chewed through electrical cables, highlighting a prolonged maintenance lapse that delayed repairs and inconvenienced hundreds of daily visitors.The sensor-operated toilets, located near the museum parking area, were installed at a cost of several lakh rupees to provide free sanitation facilities for visitors and the large number of walkers who use the sprawling campus every morning and evening. Officials said the rodents damaged the internal electrical wiring, rendering the automated systems—including doors and water supply—completely inoperable.
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Museum and Zoo director P S Manjula Devi said the process of awarding a fresh maintenance contract has begun and expressed confidence that the damaged toilets would be repaired and reopened soon after the contract is finalised.The breakdown has been compounded by the absence of a valid annual maintenance contract (AMC), which has not been renewed for the past two years. Museum authorities estimate that each unit will require around Rs 80,000 for repairs and maintenance. Although tenders had been invited earlier, no contractor came forward to undertake the work, delaying restoration of the facilities.Regular users of the grounds said the closure caused considerable inconvenience, particularly for senior citizens and those who spend long hours walking or exercising at the venue.While a paid public toilet continues to operate inside the museum compound, walkers said the free e-toilets near the parking area were far more convenient, especially during peak morning and evening hours.
