AC loos at Thane station to be thrown open for commuters by weekend

Thane: Work on the swanky loos at Thane station is on the verge of completion and is likely to be thrown open to the public by this week. The loos are being renovated on the lines of the ones at five star hotels. Thane station will be the first along the Central line to have such deluxe loos.
The loos were supposed to be thrown open to the public by September, but it got delayed as the code of conduct for the assembly elections came into force.The railways also had to get the TMC’s approval for sewage and water connections, said a railway official.
The loos will be air-conditioned and have 25 urinals and 10 blocks for men and women. Besides, shoe shine machines and water dispensing units have also been installed. Commuters will be charged Rs 2 to use only the toilet and Rs 5 to use both the shower and the restroom, said S B Mahidar, station manager of Thane.
Currently, there are just three loos at the station that caters to over 7 lakh commuters. The existing ones are badly maintained and unhygienic. ‘‘The deluxe loos will be open for the public by the coming weekend,” said MP Rajan Vichare, who has been following up with railways over this. The unit has been developed by a private firm that will also maintain the loos. If successful, then the railways plan to replicate this model at other stations.