MCD plans 229 new smart toilets, revamp of old units

New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is going to roll out a dual strategy — building over 200 modern public toilets while ensuring round-the-clock upkeep of the existing facilities.The new units, designed using durable aluminium composite panels, are expected to offer cleaner, more sustainable and easy-to-maintain spaces as part of a sweeping sanitation system revamp across the city.At the core of the plan is a revamped maintenance system to address the long-standing issue of unattended and poorly maintained toilets. Every facility will have at least two attendants working in shifts. Besides cleaning, they will also carry out minor repair work on the spot, plugging a critical gap in the upkeep. All units will be whitewashed twice a year to maintain hygiene standards.The expansion blueprint includes around 229 new toilets across key zones such as City-SP, Civil Lines, Central, Karol Bagh, Keshav Puram, Najafgarh, Rohini and South Delhi. "The idea is to ensure that toilets remain functional, clean and accessible at all times. Citizens should be able to rely on these facilities with confidence," a senior MCD official told TOI, adding that the focus is equally on maintenance and infrastructure creation.Official data highlights the scale of the challenge. Delhi has 360 community toilet complexes, of which 128 are maintained by MCD, while the rest are operated through other arrangements. There are also 837 public toilets, 613 of them under MCD and 224 handled by agencies.The overhaul will be carried out in phases. In the first phase, around 180 toilets will be taken up for repair, deep cleaning and operational upgrades, including outsourcing for improved maintenance. In the second phase, they will be redesigned with a modern touch, bringing them in line with the newly constructed units.An official said the civic body had already drawn up a plan for the repair along with outsourcing for better upkeep and management. The proposal was discussed in a recent meeting, where directions were issued to conduct a comprehensive study of all units and submit a plan for their overhaul.After receiving in-principle approval, MCD is moving towards detailed cost estimates and budget allocation. Once cleared, the work is expected to be completed in six to eight months.