Unmanned toilets at Mysuru rly station soon

After streamlining manned and unmanned level-crossings, the South Western Railways (SWR), Mysuru division, is ready with unmanned toilets.

Incorporating the best of technology, railway authorities have built automatic unmanned electronic public toilets on platform six of the main station, at the second entry and exit side, facing KRS Road. Also called e-toilets, they have been built at an estimated cost of Rs 15 lakh from Mysuru and Kodagu MP Prathap Simha’s Member of Parliament’s Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund.

According to Divisional Railway Manager Rajkumar Lal, one toilet each for men and women have been built with self-cleaning capabilities. It is also connected over a web interface to monitor facilities round-the-clock. Explaining about its functioning, Lal said people have to slide a coin of Rs 2 in the slot on the toilet door to use the facility. Only one person can it enter at a time. The toilet meant for women is also equipped with sanitary napkin vending machine and incinerator to dispose of used napkins.

The concept of e-toilets would be replicated in other important stations of Mysuru division in the coming days,  Lal said. The new age toilets will help address the challenges associated with public sanitation in tune with the directives of the Ministry of Railways to upgrade and sustain sanitation facilities at railway stations or on trains under the 'Swachh Bharath Abhiyan’ initiative. Another official told Deccan Herald the platform number six was identified to set up the facility to cater to long-distance travellers, upon their arrival. Most of the trains to places like Chennai, Ajmer and Madurai arrive on this platform.

The toilets are expected to be commissioned in the first week of October, once the ongoing works on connecting the drain with the outlet is completed, the officer added.