Mumbai's Railway Toilets: A Tale of Two Lines — Clean, Filthy, and Inaccessible

Mumbai: As part of its ongoing audit, the state of public toilets across Mumbai's Western and Central Railways reveals significant disparities in hygiene and accessibility.

At Byculla station (Central Railway), managed by the DMart Foundation, toilets were pristine and well-maintained, with regular cleaning staff. "This is how all public toilets should be," remarked Shreyas Shinde, a commuter. By contrast, stations like Ghatkopar and Bandra suffer from poor maintenance, leaving users frustrated.

One significant issue across both railways is the inaccessible toilet at Vidyavihar station, a hotspot for students. "We've been waiting for years," a commuter lamented. Additionally, many stations feature toilets for differently-abled passengers, but these are often locked, requiring access from the station master.

On the Western Railway, Mumbai Central stands out for its dirty, poorly equipped toilets, despite being a major hub. "It's high time for an upgrade and cleanliness drive," said regular commuter Sandesh Gosavi.

While some stations like Kurla and Mulund on the Central line are relatively cleaner, others like Borivli and Andheri on the Western line fail to meet basic expectations, with offensive smells and dirty conditions.

In response, the Central Railway has begun efforts to outsource toilet maintenance to corporations under their CSR initiatives and is constructing toilets at Vidyavihar station, with about 30% of the work completed.

This audit underscores the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades and better management to ensure that Mumbai's railway toilets are fit for the millions who rely on them daily.