‘Relief’ For Passengers: Kolkata Metro Opens Its First Public Toilets At Stations

As part of ‘Swacch Prasadhan Day’, Kolkata Metro Railways on Saturday (29 September) declared open the first public toilets built inside two of its stations Shahid Khudiram and Noapara Metro Station reports The Indian Express.

Inaugurated by senior commuters, the toilets for men and women were opened to the public in two separate events, said a statement issued by Metro Railways.

Metro Railway plans to construct toilets in two more stations by Durga Puja says Metro Railways Chief Public Relations Officer Indrani Banerjee.

Construction of toilet facilities at Belgachia, Sovabazar-Sutanuti stations have also been completed and will be open to commuters at the earliest.

Commuters had long been facing inconvenience due to the lack of toilet facility, and the Metro Railways started constructing toilets after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had ordered the Railway Board to install toilet facilities for commuters in 2016.

Then Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu while attending a programme in the city in 2016, had also assured that they would take up the matter.

“The Noapara and Kavi Subhas stretch is of almost an hour…I think it will be great if all stations are equipped with this basic facility,” Indian Express quoted an engineering student Anindita Das as saying.