Now Reading: Pune women’s public toilets lack safety, PMC plans new ones
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Pune women’s public toilets lack safety, PMC plans new ones
Pune Municipal Corporation's general body revealed that public toilets for women across the city lack basic security, with no female security guards or functioning CCTV cameras in most wards. Data showed that…
Pune Municipal Corporation's general body revealed that public toilets for women across the city lack basic security, with no female security guards or functioning CCTV cameras in most wards. Data showed that out of 134 toilets under the Dhole Patil Road ward office, five were dilapidated and four closed. The Sinhagad Road ward office has 35 operational toilets out of 60, while the Yerawada-Wadgaon Sheri ward has 14 permanently closed out of 55.
The Swargate, Katraj stretch has no public toilets for women due to land constraints. Despite identified irregularities, no punitive action has been taken against contractors. PMC has proposed 100 modern prefabricated toilets for women at an estimated cost of Rs 40.6 crore, with Rs 21.5 crore already set aside in the 2026-27 civic budget. The women and child welfare committee is considering installing sanitary napkin vending machines and incinerators.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pune's rapid urbanisation has not kept pace with sanitation infrastructure for women, a gap that disproportionately affects the city's large working female population and daily commuters. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, urban local bodies are responsible for maintaining public toilets, but enforcement of security norms such as CCTVs and female attendants has been weak across Maharashtra. The PMC's Rs 40.6 crore proposal, if approved, would add only 100 toilets for a city of over 3 million. The real test will be whether the new tenders include penalty clauses for non-compliance with security requirements, and whether ward-level inspections shift from periodic to daily as seen in Aundh-Baner. The general body's next budget session will decide on the funding.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
