Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposal to install e-toilets on the Eastern and Western Highways across Mumbai is stuck between two departments over a No Objection Certificate (NOC). The Solid Waste Management (SWM) department has sent a letter to the Public Work Department (PWD) for allowing the construction of e-toilets beside the bus stops on both the highways.
“We are planning to build 5×9 feet one seater e-toilets along the bus stops on the Western and Eastern Express Highways across Mumbai. There are very few toilets along the highways which causes inconvenience to the commuters. As a result, locals have complained that many motorists and commuters travelling on these highways urinate in open spaces,” said a civic official.
However, the officials said, PWD is sitting on the proposal. “We have submitted the proposal to the PWD, but it has neither accepted nor denied our proposal. The talks are still on,” said the civic official. The proposal to build toilets at regular distances is keeping with the Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan project, added the civic official.
A PWD official has denied receiving a letter from BMC. “Why would we not approve a proposal for constructing a toilet? Actually, we are yet to receive the letter and will approve once we get a copy of it,” said the PWD official. The e-toilets have been planned at all the bus stops between Sion and Mulund on the Eastern Express Highway and between Bandra and Dahisar on the Western Express Highway.
“When approved by the PWD, these toilets will be constructed under a sub-project of Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan called ‘High Suvidha’. Since a high number of commuters travel on both the highways, the e toilet project is going to be very useful,” said the official.