HYDERABAD: Enthused by the image boost and response it got after constructing and opening over 130 public conveniences in the twin cities, the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad is ready to inaugurate a few more in less than a month.

Fourteen public conveniences, all of the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mode under the Fund Your City campaign, are in various stages of construction. Besides, 26 more proposals are awaiting approval.

Areas

New toilets are coming up at Tarnaka, Clock Tower, Gymkhana Ground, Sanatnagar, Abids, Begumpet, etc. Areas in the pipeline include Dilsukhnagar, Chandrayanagutta, Yousufguda, Moosarambagh, Keshavgiri, Malakpet, Madannapet, Barthan Bazar, Ameerpet, Borabanda, Moosapet and so on.

Almost all new public conveniences have come up on corporation land though it did face criticism for using pavement space. Officials point out that they built at spots that get frequently `wet' and additional pavement space was built for the convenience of pedestrians.

To accelerate construction work, zonal officials have been directed to help the BOT developer in `securing' the sites, keep it hassle free and ensure all amenities' are in place, according to K. Rajiv Babu, Deputy Executive Engineer, Solid Waste Management.

Feedback from BOT developers too has been quite encouraging though they complain of customers becoming a trickle (no pun intended!) during Sundays and holidays. On busy roads, however, there is a steady flow from dawn to dusk (5 a.m. to 11 p.m. usually) for using toilets and taking baths.

"People of all walks of life come and save for a few `local leaders' no one cribs about paying the fees of Re.1, Rs. 2 and Rs. 5. In fact, beggars make their payments promptly. Drivers of autos, buses and taxis are our regular customers," says N.K. Sharma, Programme Officer, Sanitation Consultancy Services.

SCS operates public conveniences in Navi Mumbai and New Delhi. It has built 18 here and is keen to take up more.

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