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3mo ago

Bengaluru Metro Introduces Paid Toilets at 12 Stations Amid Criticism

BMRCL defends new charges for public-area toilets, citing maintenance needs, as backlash grows over monetization of basic services.

The toilets located in the unpaid or public areas of these stations have been handed over to Sulabh International.
Commuters must now pay to use toilets at 12 Bengaluru metro stations
Namma Metro (3)

Overview

  • BMRCL has implemented a ₹2/₹5 fee for urinals and toilets in unpaid areas of 12 metro stations, managed by Sulabh International under a five-year contract.
  • The move follows a February fare hike of up to 71%, which led to a 26% drop in daily ridership from 860,000 to 630,000 passengers.
  • BMRCL clarified that toilets in paid zones remain free for passengers and stated the charges aim to improve facility upkeep, not recover fare revenue.
  • Critics, including the BMRCL Employees’ Union and BJP leaders, argue the charges violate rights and reflect misplaced priorities, referencing a Supreme Court ruling on sanitation as a fundamental right.
  • The affected stations include National College, Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, and Krantivira Sangolli Rayanna Railway Station, among others.