The state of public toilets at railway stations has become a matter of grave concern for female commuters across suburban stations, especially at Mulund. While the Central Railway (CR) had entered into an agreement with the DMart Foundation for keeping toilets clean at prominent stations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Byculla, the situation on the ground remains far from satisfactory. Months ago, the railway authority announced that stations like Thane and Kalyan would also fall under the purview of DMart’s contract, but progress has been disappointingly slow.
A recent visit to Dombivli revealed the appalling state of the so-called “deluxe” toilets. Inside the ladies’ toilet, a man was found sleeping, while hawkers used the space to store their goods. Following the report, the railway authorities imposed a fine on the contractor. Today, in the peak hours of the morning, Lakshmi Pranesh was horrified to discover that all the ladies’ toilets at Mulund station were blocked. When she asked the cleaning staff about the issue, she was told, “Aisahi hai. Use karneka hai to karo, nahito jao” (It’s been like this. Use it if you want; otherwise, go away).
Frustrated, she moved to platform number one, only to find a similar state of neglect: no glass inside the toilets, and the cleaning staff once again dismissing the problem as an unavoidable “public toilet” condition. “What is the use of having a cleaning contractor if the toilets are in such a state?” she questioned. “Not only are they not cleaning the toilets, but they are also demanding money to use them. This is the reality at almost every suburban station. The person collecting money is often in a drunken stupor, unable to even speak properly.”
Vandana Sonawane, president, Maharashtra Railway Mahila Pravasi Sanghatna (right) Madhu Kotian, president, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh. PICS/SHRIKANT KHUPERKAR
The glaring issue is that no one from the suburban station management appears to be taking responsibility. Staff members, including the Government Railway Police, the Railway Police Force, and home guards, are seen loitering on the platforms, while commuters are left to deal with the squalor of the toilets. Even though cleaning staff are designated for the stations, their focus seems to be solely on the station manager’s office, leaving the rest of the areas, including the toilets, in deplorable conditions.
“Commuters are not even informed whether the toilets are open or closed. There are no signs or notifications outside the toilets,” said Madhu Kotian, president of the Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh. Kotian also pointed out that while the railway used to employ its own staff to clean the toilets, private contractors are now responsible under a tender system. However, these contractors are not generating sufficient income and are resorting to demanding money from passengers to cover cleaning costs. Kotian added that he would visit Mulund station to meet the station manager and get to the bottom of the issue.
When Mamta Kulkarni, the station manager at Mulund, was confronted by Kotian, she admitted that she was unaware of the ongoing issue. “You are the station manager, and you don’t know what’s happening at your own station?” Kotian asked. “Commuters have to deal with unbearable smells, and you don’t even have a plan to address this?”
The frustration of commuters was echoed by Vandana Sonawane, president of Maharashtra Railway Mahila Pravasi Sanghatna. In a stern message, Sonawane highlighted the contrast between the high-tech “Vande Bharat” trains being introduced with all modern amenities and the appalling state of the toilets at Mulund station.
“If trains like the ‘Vande Bharat’ are being launched with world-class facilities, why is it that stations like Mulund lack proper toilets? The railway administration is not doing enough for female commuters. This is a clear violation of their rights,” she said, condemning the appalling condition of the toilets. “What is even more shocking is that the staff members who are supposed to clean the toilets are charging commuters to use them. When will the railway administration take responsibility for this?” Sonawane demanded.
Pratibha Shashikant Rokade, a regular commuter from Mulund, expressed her frustration as well. “For the past three months, no one has been taking care of the toilets. The contractor left three months ago, and the situation has only worsened since then,” she said. Shipra T Poojary, another Mulund resident, described the state of the toilets as intolerable.
“The condition has been so bad that we cannot even enter the toilets anymore. The station authorities are either unaware or simply indifferent to this issue. How can the station manager — a woman herself — not understand the daily struggles of female commuters?” she questioned.
