Western Railway has initiated a comprehensive survey across Mumbai’s rail network to improve the cleanliness and maintenance of station toilets. The inspection covers toilet blocks along the Churchgate-Dahanu corridor, with a strict focus on assessing hygiene standards and ensuring accountability from contractors.
Teams are conducting detailed checks on all facilities, identifying issues such as broken tiles, faulty taps, water leaks, and unclean fixtures. Special attention is being given to pay-and-use toilets managed by private contractors, who may face penalties if hygiene levels are not met. Out of the 59 toilet blocks in the Mumbai division, 32 are privately operated, and nine new facilities are planned for stations like Khar, Andheri, and Vile Parle.
On average, 10-15 complaints about unclean or malfunctioning toilets are reported daily. To tackle this, real-time inspections have been introduced, where contractors are required to provide live video updates showing not only the toilets but also surrounding station areas.
In a bid to enforce higher standards, authorities have imposed ₹21 lakh in fines on defaulting contractors this year. Passenger groups are pushing for stricter actions, including potential blacklisting for repeated violations. Some commuters have suggested involving corporate entities to maintain these facilities under CSR initiatives.
This initiative aims to enhance passenger amenities, ensuring a cleaner and more hygienic environment across railway stations.
