Pune’s Mhatre Bridge Public Toilet Still Locked After 6 Months, Residents Demand Action.
Prashant Velankar, an activist, has written a letter to the Warje-Karvenagar regional office, urging the authorities to open the public toilet near Mhatre Bridge within the next eight to ten days. Despite being completed six months ago, the facility remains closed, causing considerable inconvenience to citizens, especially women.
Residents of the area have raised concerns about the lack of accessible sanitation, with many emphasizing the difficulty faced by women. Velankar highlighted the issue, stating, “Several women have complained about the lack of public sanitation facilities in the area. If the issue is not resolved promptly, the women’s committee in our area will stage a protest by blocking the Mhatre Bridge road. The public money was spent on this facility, but it’s still not accessible to them. Approximately Rs 50 lakh was spent, yet people are still struggling to find a safe, clean toilet.”
Kavitatai, a local fruit vendor, also voiced her frustration: “This toilet is meant for the public, and it should be put to use. What is the point of spending money on such constructions with taxpayers’ money if they are not made available to the people?”
The residents have given the authorities a fifteen-day ultimatum to resolve the issue, warning that if it is not addressed, they will stage a peaceful protest to demand their basic rights.
PMC reacts
Ganesh Khirid, the Sanitary Inspector at the PMC Regional Ward Office for Karve Nagar-Warje, stated, “We will open the toilet to the public, but we have not yet received the keys as some work is still pending. The drainage and water system installation are not yet complete. Once the remaining work is finished, we will make it available for use. This facility is meant for public use, so there is no reason to keep it locked. We have informed the concerned department, and they have assured us that the work will be completed soon, and the toilet will be ready for public access”
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