Centre launches Googlebased toilet locator for DelhiNCR

To help people access public toilets in the city, a Google-based Toilet Locator Awareness Campaign was launched for all Urban Local Bodies in Delhi-NCR by the Union Ministry of Urban Development on Wednesday.

Swachh Bharat Mission director and joint secretary, ministry of urban development, Praveen Prakash, said, “Through this campaign, we will locate community and public toilets, which include municipal toilets along with facilities located at the petrol pumps, malls, railway stations, bus stands and at other public places in Delhi and NCR.”

“The campaign will be run from July 12 to August 11. To encourage citizens, a surprise gift will be given for the feedback or suggestion received on the toilets,” Prakash said.

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) chairman, Naresh Kumar, said, 333 public toilets have been mapped on Google to enable citizens and visitors to locate the nearest public toilet in their area.

“While the step is aimed at reducing public urination, it is important that the toilets are in good condition and hence the feedback is being sought,” said Kumar.

And the rating of toilets, along with the qualitative feedback will be shared with the urban local bodies (ULBs) which will lead to a strong partnership and collaboration between the government and public, he added.

Earlier, the civic agency tried to help people in locating public toilet near their location through an app named NDMC 311.

Citizens were given the option to file complaints if the condition of toilets is not found satisfactory. “We received a tremendous response. The idea of geo-mapping was to strengthen the drive to keep these public utilities clean and user friendly,” said a senior official.