Ranchi Launches Jharkhand's First AI-Enabled Public Toilet for Smart City Sanitation

Ranchi: Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has introduced the state’s first AI-enabled public toilet on a pilot basis, marking a technology-driven step towards improving urban sanitation.The facility has been installed within the Smart City campus at Dhurwa.Built with a steel frame, the smart toilet functions entirely through sensors and automation. Users can access the facility after inserting a Rs 5 coin, following which the door opens automatically and lights switch on. The pan flushes before use, and once the user exits, the system triggers another automatic flush, cleans the floor area and locks the door, ensuring hygienic conditions for the next user. Indicator lights installed outside the unit display green when the toilet is vacant and red when it is occupied, making usage easier for visitors.The AI-enabled toilet also includes safeguards against vandalism and theft. Any attempt to tamper with or damage fittings activates sensors that automatically lock the door, a feature expected to address long-standing issues of misuse and destruction of public toilet infrastructure.Sushant Gaurav, RMC administrator said the project focuses on enhancing the quality of urban sanitation through technological upgradation. “Our aim is to assess the functional aspects of AI-based toilets and carry out a cost-to-benefit analysis. This is a demonstration project, and public feedback will be crucial in deciding future expansion,” he said.The administrator added that if the response is positive and funds permit, similar facilities could be replicated at other locations.Officials described the initiative as a symbolic shift towards modern sanitation solutions that combine cleanliness, automation and accountability. RMC is preparing to install similar smart toilets at four more locations under phase -1, which are yet to be decided. Based on performance and feedback, the model may later be extended to busy markets, bus stands and other high-footfall public areas to improve access to clean and reliable public sanitation facilities.