Pimpri Chinchwad: ‘Smart’ washrooms for twin town denizens soon
26 facilities are being constructed by private contractor, says official
Citizens in the industrial townships won’t have to struggle with poorly maintained, stinking washrooms, as a private party has started constructing 26 ‘smart public toilets’ on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis on behalf of Pimpri Chinchwad Smart City. Eight such facilities are ready while the work on the remaining 18 is underway. “Daily cleaning, water and electricity supply, security, maintenance and repair of smart public toilets will be done by the contractor. The Smart City will not have to pay anything, except monitoring the cleanliness at the facilities,” Manoj Sethia of Smart City Project told Pune Times Mirror.
“Smart public toilets are being constructed for the convenience of women, girls, senior citizens and citizens. Smart City has only provided space to the contractor. Daily cleaning, water and electricity supply, security, maintenance and repair of toilets will be done by the contractor. Smart City has not spent a single rupee.” Meanwhile, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is charging the contractor concerned a rent of Rs 1,100 per year and has opened a smart business by renting out the space for restaurant and putting up advertisements in the space adjacent to the public conveniences at important chowks.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Smart City Limited is building smart public toilets at 26 places in the city. The ultra-modern facility has been made available to citizens at a nominal cost of Rs 5. Even after extending the deadline three times for the smart public toilet work, only one contractor showed interest, who has been entrusted with the work. M/s Medilina Health Care Pvt Ltd has been given the task of building smart public toilets and maintaining them for 15 years. Smart City has claimed that citizens will be provided the facility at a nominal rate of Rs 5. The contractor has been allowed to construct two commercial blocks next to the smart toilet. They will be given on rent. The contractor will generate revenue by putting up advertisements in the same area.
