The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is rolling its sleeves up to construct smart public toilets at 69 various places in Kathmandu.
The KMC has said that it is preparing to add new public toilets and manage the existing ones better with the surging demand of public toilets in the city.
There are 58 public toilets in the KMC. KMC spokesperson Ishwor Dangol informed that new infrastructures would be added for the general public's convenience as most of the existing toilets are filthy and ill-managed.
He further said that toilets with better facilities will be constructed at 69 different places.
The KMC had earlier formed a team under Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi to conduct a study on improvement of existing public toilets, the number of new toilets that need to be constructed, places and models of toilets. The team had identified 69 different places where new public toilets can be constructed.
In its first phase, the team has recommended to construct public toilets at Teku chowk, Sanepa bridge, Kalimati, Kalanki, Sitapaila, Balaju, Machhapokhari, Gongabu police station, Maharajgunj, Sukedhara, Chabahil, Mitrapark and Jayabageshwori.
Meanwhile, the team had also suggested construction of toilets at different places including Gaushala, Tinkune, Koteshwor, New Baneshwor, Babarmahal, Thapathali, Tripureshwor, Sundhara, NAC, in the vicinity of Juddha Shalik in New Road, Hanuman Dhoka, Jamal, Lainchaur, Sorhakhutte, Balkhu and Kuleshwor in the first phase.
The public toilets at the remaining places will be constructed in second phase.
According to spokesperson at KMC Dangol, new public toilets will be children, women and people with disabilities-friendly.
Each public toilet will have sanitary pads, adequate water, electricity and a convenient place to defecate. He said three separate toilets will be built with three different designs for women, men and people with disabilities. As per the design prepared by the study team, these toilets will be installed with light bulbs which automatically turn on when people enter toilet and turn off when they leave.
The toilets will also have soap, water, toilet papers and spray. Electric heaters will be placed for hand drying.
According to the KMC design, the smart public toilets users can pay by using mobile application or by automatic billing machine.
Digital information will be placed in the toilets along with CCTV cameras outside the toilets.
Spokesperson Dangol, clarifying the reason to install CCTV cameras, said, "We've found negligence in part of public toilets users. Additionally those who undertake to maintain cleanliness also did not work properly. We have installed CCTV to monitor both these aspects so that cleanliness can be maintained."
He further said that CCTV cameras will also be installed to prevent any untoward incidents including ill-treatment, theft and other criminal activities that could occur in the toilets.
Similarly, the KMC has planned to keep the environment around the public toilets clean and well-managed. It has plans to operate coffee shop near every public toilet.
"It is a common belief that public toilets are considered filthy. We want to prove this wrong," spokesperson Dangol said, "We also have plans to operate small yet well-organized coffee shop so that pedestrians walking around needn't cover their noses."
He further said that preparations are on to work on six different designs for construction of public toilets.
The KMC has aimed to manage the existing toilets by mid-April and complete construction of new public toilets within April 2020.
