Lack of functioning toilets in Chennai’s suburban rail

By Anoushka Sawhney

Chennai: Public toilets in the city’s suburban rail system across many

stations are not functioning, a random

check of four stations revealed. The toilets They are either locked or not clean for

commuters to use.

Sevakumar, a daily commuter from Nungambakkam to Tambaram said, “Many stations do

not have toilets. During an emergency, we have to go outside the station.”

The toilet at Nungambakkam railway station was locked.

Anita, a passenger, said that she refrains from using the public toilet as they are not clean and

might cause an infection. “We have to hold ourselves as there is no toilet available.”

The public toilet at Mambalam railway station was locked. A railway official said that it has

been two months since the toilet is closed and has no idea about the re-opening.

This reporter saw commuters urinating in the open due to the absence of a

toilet. Even if there was a toilet, passengers chose to urinate in public.

Priyadarshini, a commuter who was waiting for the train at St. Thomas Mount said, “There is

no signboard telling where the toilet is, which makes it difficult to locate.”

She added, “At Chengelpet or Tambaram, the toilets are good. However, not all stations have

a washroom.”

She said that sometimes at the ticket counter there is a board that says if you want to use the

restroom, you can take the keys from the counter.

Although, there was no such option available at St. Thomas Mount station.

A railway official at Chennai Fort station said that around 3,000-5,000 tickets are sold daily.

The public toilet at Guindy railway station was also locked. A shopkeeper at the station said

that it has always been like this.

Naresh, a commuter said that no one uses the toilets as they are not in a proper condition.

At St. Thomas Mount station, the reporter was charged extra by the gatekeepers of the toilet.

The charges mentioned outside the toilet were Rs.2 for urinals, Rs.5 each for toilet and bath.

When asked “why the extra cost”, the gatekeepers refused to reply.

Toilet at St. Thomas Mount station was not clean.

Some stations also did not have toilets for disabled people. Others which had were not

functional.