Bhubaneswar residents may soon have to pay ₹5 to use BMC-managed public toilets, as the civic body plans to introduce a user fee to improve cleanliness, maintenance and sanitation services.
The proposal follows a directive from the Housing & Urban Development (H&UD) Department, asking urban local bodies to levy user charges for the operation and upkeep of public sanitation facilities.
Under the proposed system, toilet users will pay ₹5, while public urinals will remain free. BMC says the revenue will help maintain cleaner facilities and improve service standards. Mayor Sulochana Das said the proposal will be placed before the municipal body for approval before implementation.
The move is likely to draw mixed reactions, with authorities arguing the fee will support better maintenance and discourage misuse, while some residents may question charging for essential public sanitation. Public toilet charges had been waived during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure unrestricted access to hygiene facilities.
-OdishaAge
