Social Activist Urges PMC to Connect Water and Drainage to ‘Pink Buses’ in Pune
Social activist and Creative Foundation President Sandeep Khardekar has urged Navalkishore Ram, Commissioner of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), to immediately provide water and drainage connections to the 'Pink Buses' converted into mobile toilets for women. Khardekar alleges that several such facilities are lying unused despite being ready for operation.
In a letter addressed to the Municipal Commissioner, Khardekar expressed initial satisfaction upon seeing a dedicated women's toilet facility installed near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden on Jangli Maharaj Road. He viewed it as a positive step towards women-friendly civic infrastructure. However, he found the facility closed and non-operational.
Pune has long faced criticism over the shortage of clean and accessible toilets for women, especially during major public events such as Ganeshotsav, the Wari pilgrimage, and Diwali festivities. During these events, women police personnel and citizens face severe inconvenience due to the lack of adequate facilities.
The PMC has floated tenders for 11 such 'Pink Bus' toilet facilities under a 'Pay and Use' model and awarded operations to Sara Plast Pvt. Ltd. for a period of five years. Under this arrangement, women users would be charged Rs 5 per use, while the private operator would undertake maintenance of the facilities after investing nearly Rs 90 lakh in refurbishing and preparing the buses.
One such bus is operational near Shaniwar Wada, while buses stationed at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Garden and Katraj Garden remain unused due to the absence of water supply and drainage connectivity. Several other buses are reportedly in the process of being readied for public use.
Khardekar has demanded immediate administrative intervention to ensure that all pending civic connections and related infrastructure are provided without delay so that the facilities can be made operational for women across the city. He emphasizes the importance of these toilets in enhancing the quality of life for women and ensuring their dignity and safety in public spaces.
The initiative to convert buses into mobile toilets is a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issue of inadequate sanitation facilities for women in Pune. By ensuring that these buses are fully operational, the PMC can set a benchmark for other cities and contribute to a more inclusive and women-friendly urban environment.
Khardekar's letter highlights the need for continuous monitoring and proactive measures to ensure that public facilities are not left idle and that the investment in such initiatives is utilized effectively. The success of the 'Pink Bus' project could serve as a model for other municipalities and encourage similar innovative solutions to urban sanitation challenges.
