Bustling Bengaluru home to 1.4 crore people & just 803 public toilets

BENGALURU: Bengaluru may be expanding as one of India’s fastest-growing cities, with its population touching an estimated 1.4 crore, but it is falling behind on the public sanitation infrastructure front. The city has only 803 public toilets — a number woefully inadequate for its residents and visitors, according to a recent report by RV University.
To assess the availability, quality and accessibility of public toilets in Bengaluru, a team from the university conducted a detailed field investigation over a month, using ethnographic observations to gather data. It examined 65 public toilets across various spaces — public parks, Metro and bus stations, marketplaces, railway stations, and tourist sites — chosen to represent the experiences of people across different ages, genders, abilities, and socio-economic statuses.
Where are route maps?
Although most public places are equipped with public toilets, many lack proper signa- ge and route maps, making them difficult to access. Fiftytwo toilets had no route maps to guide users. In busy areas like railway stations, bus terminals, and marketplaces such as Chickpet, the absence of route maps meant the only way for users to find a toilet was to ask vendors or passersby for directions. Even in Metro stations, where clear navigation is crucial, only one out of eight stations had route maps available.
Pay-and-use access issues
The team found that women are typically charged twice as much as men because the latter can use urinals, while women are required to use water closets, which come with hig- her fees. The report noted that this discrepancy creates discomfort and privacy concerns for men as they are required to disclose the nature of their use to staff.
Safety & privacy concerns
Women, in particular, face safety risks when using public toilets. The report found that 22 out of 65 toilets lacked staff or security personnel, while only nine provided emergency contact information. Some toilets were located in isolated areas, further raising safety concerns. Additionally, 63% of the toilets had locks outside stall, which served no purpose for the user and simply raised the risk of the person being trapped inside.
Not so disabled-friendly
Despite legal requirements, only 14 out of the 65 surveyed toilets had facilities for persons with disabilities, and of these, seven were locked or otherwise inaccessible. There was use of Braille-encoded signage in just one toilet, at KSR railway station, but the signage was positioned in a manner that obstructed access for blind individuals.
Poor sanitation, lighting
The report highlighted that 52% of public toilets were effectively unusable after sunset owing to inadequate lighting. Additionally, 24 toilets were found to have slippery or unclean surfaces, posing health and safety risks for users. One of the contributing factors to these was the lack of ventilation, found in 42% of the public toilets.
Changing station woes
Of the 65 toilets examined, only one had a changing station for babies, highlighting a significant gap in provisions for parent in public facilities. Notably, these stations were exclusively available in women’s toilets, reflecting the assumption that caregiving responsibilities primarily fall on women. This not only reinforces gender stereotypes but also disregards the importance of involving men in parenting responsibilities.