mid-day takes 'Survive Platform Loo' challenge: Here's the report card

Lets talk grubby urinals Mumbairsquos local train commuters told Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu this April when on a visit to the city he took an unplanned ride on a local from Currey Road to CST Filthy public toilets have emerged top commuter woe say recent reports with the rail authorities and the BMC passing the buck over their upkeep midday reported on May 11 that the Railways considers running trains its core job and in a coordination committee meeting had discussed that the BMC build loos 100 metres away from station premises and maintain them because it was a civic bodyrsquos job to do soThis menrsquos toilet on Borivalirsquos platform 6 with jerry cans and buckets upturned into the commodes is a nightmare for commuters PicNimesh DaveWhile the passtheparcel continues we took a twoday railway loo testdrive Herersquos how it wentWestern RailwayThe station ChurchgateDaily avg commuters 105518Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant Hygiene The womenrsquos toilet was clean and fully tiled The toilet seats were kept dry wash basin and floors mopped clean The janitor was around when we visited Availability of water Water was on tap and the flush worked but the janitor complained of erratic supply We spotted leaking tapsAccessibility The lavatory sits on the white tiled concourse near the ticket counters and is easily accessibleCharges A fare chart was up and commuters were being charged accordinglyMaintenance A rotary floor machine was being used to mop the floors outside the toilet block on the station concourse But the stink from the menrsquos toilet was unbearable Ventilation Ventilation was adequate and we spotted exhaust fans Dustbin PresentThe station MahalaxmiDaily avg commuters 45000Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant Hygiene Filthy and congested The walls were splashed with paan stains the toilet seats were dirtyAccessibility Only one toilet block sits at the centre of the platform Men used the womenrsquos loo Women stayed away entirely Charges No cost chart was found The janitor wasnrsquot collecting money Availability of water Dry tapsVentilation The sole exhaust fan in the womenrsquos loo wasnrsquot working Maintenance The janitor admitted that he allowed men to use the womenrsquos looThe station Charni RoadDaily avg commuters 58000Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Ajinkya SawantHygiene The stench was overpowering and the wash basin was cloggedAvailability of water While drought made headlines on TV taps inside the womenrsquos loo were running unattended The three urinals werenrsquot connected to the water pipelineCharges Rs 2 big job Rs 1 small job read a sign We were charged as per rateAccessibility A prominent sign led commuters to the toilet blockVentilation Poor The only exhaust fan wasnrsquot functioning leading to a stenchMaintenance Well tiled from outside it held two water tanks on its roof The windows to the menrsquos loo unfortunately offered an unhindered viewDustbin PresentThe station AndheriDaily avg commuters 250750Loo present Not on platform Itrsquos located on the elevated deckVisited by Shikha Vatsala and Fatema THygiene It was clean and well kept Urinals were in good condition and the janitor said it was mopped up four times a dayAvailability of water Available flush worked Accessibility We didnrsquot spot a signboard that led commuters to the toilet It took us 10 minutes to locate it We spotted a separate set of urinals for children Thoughtful Charges We saw the janitor overcharging commuters Maintenance Of the two washbasins only one was functional The water coolers next to the toilet block were in poor condition One was blocked by a metal pillarVentilation Well ventilated with exhaust fansDustbin Filthy broken bucket placed beneath wash basinsThe station BandraDaily avg commuters 135640Loo present YesVisited by Shikha Vatsala and Fatema THygiene The menrsquos loo was open and stinking There is only one loo for women with a broken flush Availability of water The wash basin was common for both men and women It had running water Accessibility Since itrsquos the only toilet on the platform itrsquos easily found We also found a loo for the disabled The entrance to the womenrsquos loo should be changed it directly faces the platformCharges They charged R2 for the urinal and toiletMaintenance It was in average condition inside but the structure needs a maintenance job The menrsquos loo was open and the flush wasnrsquot workingVentilation The womenrsquos loo was stuffy We saw no windows or exhaust Dustbin MissingThe station Lower ParelDaily avg commuters 66000Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Ajinkya Sawant When midday visited the womenrsquos loo it was locked and no janitor was in sightThe station DadarDaily avg commuters 145415Loo present YesVisited by Shikha Vatsala and Fatema THygiene Wash basins were present and the urinals were being cleaned The floor was neat We hear it is cleaned six times a day Availability of water Available in wash basins and loos Accessibility Yes there is an additional deluxe toilet blockCharges Rs 2 for women and Rs 1 for men inside the deluxe toilet wonder why the difference Rs 5 for big job both genders Maintenance Average Buckets were missing Ventilation Well ventilated with huge exhausts Dustbin Placed near wash basin but brokenThe station MaladDaily avg commuters 155000Loo present YesVisited by Shashank Rao and Nimesh DaveHygiene Urinals cleaner than toilets An empty alcohol bottle was found into one of the urinal blocksAvailability of water Pipes were rusty The water flow was reed thin Accessibility Stands at the end of the platform so was easily accessible Charges The fare chart was torn The janitor was charging what he wished Male janitor was manning the womenrsquos loo CreepyMaintenance Below average Children were seen playing on the roof Ventilation Average Exhaust fans were present but growling and old Dustbin MissingHarbour LineThe station CSTDaily avg commuters 109700Loo present YesVisited by Shashank Rao and Atul KambleHygiene The HQ of Central Railway is one of the most congested in the world The toilet block here is the largest on this line and marked by long queues The partitions inside urinals were dirty and the toilets could be better maintained although the happy dolphin tiles were a surprise Availability of water Not all taps were functioning The pipes were leakingAccessibility Easily accessible since it is on the concourseCharges The janitor was overcharging selectively Maintenance There is scope for improvement Ventilation The exhausts are functioning but the stench continues to rule Dustbin PresentThe station NerulDaily avg commuters 42870Loo present YesVisited by Faisal Tandel and Sameer MarkhandeHygiene The tiles and floor were clean but the urinals need better maintenance Due to water shortage it is cleaned only once every morningAvailability of water Was available We saw water being ferried to wash cars parked in the marking lot Accessibility Easily located but is almost at the fag end of the station The toilet on the station premises is used only by ticket checkers and railway staff No signboards pointed to the toiletChargesRs 5 big and small job and Rs 10 for bathMaintenance The windows were broken and there was graffiti on the walls The wash basin needs repairs Ventilation There was a one exhaustDustbin MissingThe station Reay RoadDaily avg commuters 16530Loo present YesVisited by Shashank Rao and Atul KambleHygiene A new toilet has replaced an old one that was in shambles The structure is well maintained from the inside with clean tiles and urinal partitionsAvailability of water Available Four large water tanks sat beside the block Fixtures were in good condition Accessibility Good A loo for the disabled is present but was locked Charges Rate chart displayed and charges collected accordingly Maintenance The new toilet was spick and span with the janitor sitting right opposite The old toilet which is in a mess is likely to be demolishedVentilation Fitted with multiple exhausts Dustbin PresentThe station WadalaDaily avg commuters 49200Loo present YesVisited by Shashank Rao and Atul KambleHygiene Itrsquos poorly maintained The partitions of urinals were stained the tiles were mucky The janitor couldnrsquot care less Availability of water The taps were leaking The wash basins had water supply Accessibility It can be easily located Another toilet on platform no 4 has an open urinal and the womenrsquos loo was locked and had an iron grillCharges The rate chart had the amounts scratched out Maintenance The loo on platform no 4 was better maintained The one on platform no 1 was shabby with the janitor sitting idle Around it were stackedbroken ATVMs and rusted furnitureVentilation Messy dusty and it stankDustbin MissingThe station Sandhurst RoadDaily avg commuters 23990Loo present YesVisited by Shashank Rao and Atul KambleHygiene The tiles walls and ceiling were in terrible condition Seepage was evident on walls as well as on the ceiling above the water tank The stench here was overpowering Availability of water The taps ran a trickleAccessibility Was fineCharges A rate card was displayed and money was being collected No attendant was seen for menrsquos loo There was one for womenrsquos looMaintenance Congested during peak hours and it needs better upkeep Ventilation Cobwebs and dirt covered the exhaustsDustbin MissingCentral Railway Main lineThe station KurlaDaily avg commuters 95330Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Datta KumbharHygiene There are two toilets at Kurla station one on platform 1 and another platforms 23 We found both in a dilapidated condition especially the latter The womenrsquos loo was dilapidated The toilet bowl was clogged and the taps were running Excreta lay on the tiles inside Availability of water No bucket or mug was available in the toilet Charges People were using it for free Accessibility With just two urinals there was a long queue even during nonrush hours Ventilation Unbearable stenchMaintenance Not maintained at all No woman in her right mind would use itDustbin Present in 1 but overflowing Absent in 23The station BycullaDaily avg commuters 42700Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Datta KumbharHygiene Toilets were in bad shape the wash basin was clogged The toilet seats were clean but the flush was missingAvailability of water The taps were leaking inside the womenrsquos toilet The wash basin pipe was broken inside the mens loo Water was being wasted Charges No one was paying according to the rate card Accessibility Easily accessible Ventilation The windows were shut Suffocating Maintenance They have miles to go before they sleep Dustbin Present outside the looThe station Currey RoadDaily avg commuters 24400Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Datta KumbharHygiene The walls were tiled the toilet seats clean No stains anywhere Availability of water Running water was available in the tap and the flush The tap in the womenrsquos loo was leaking and the wash basin was clogged Charges A rate card was pasted but not everyone was paying up Accessibility The passage to the bathroom is narrow There is only one toilet in the womenrsquos section so it gets overcrowded during peak hours Ventilation Waste was dumped around and spit stains were everywhere The womenrsquos toilet was small and missing an exhaustMaintenance It looked like it wasnrsquot frequented by a janitor Dustbin Bucket for a dustbinThe station GhatkoparDaily avg commuters 107500Loo present Yes Visited by Silky Sharma and Datta KumbharHygiene In good condition The dustbin was closed handwash bottles were by the basin Both womenrsquos toilets were spacious Something needs to be done about the stenchCharges Highest rate across stations we visited mdash Rs 5 We found no rate chartAvailability of water Available on tap and in flush Accessibility Can be easily locatedVentilation Appropriate Maintenance Doors had suitable locks The premises were tidyDustbin MissingThe station MulundDaily avg commuters 99070Loo present YesVisited by Silky Sharma and Datta KumbharHygiene Toilets on platform no 1 were in average condition The taps were running the flush was missing and the floor was wet The stench was terrible The womenrsquos toilet on another platform was shuttered A man standing outside said he chooses to keep it shut because ldquoeunuchs enter and do mischiefrdquo Availability of water AvailableAccessibility The womenrsquos loo stands in the middle of platform no1 so it is easy to locate Charges A rate card was pasted Rs 1 for urinal Rs 2 for big jobVentilation Poor Itrsquos difficult to stand anywhere near the toilet blockDustbin Bucket instead of dustbin Sanitary napkins were strewn on the floorThe station KanjurmargDaily avg commuters 43470Loo present Yes but lockedVisited by Silky Sharma and Datta KumbharA new toilet block was under construction when we visited The overall infrastructure of station seemed upgraded