Bhubaneswar, 12 July (H.S.): Residents of Bhubaneswar may soon have to pay a user fee for using public toilets managed by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), bringing an end to the existing free service, official sources said on Sunday.

The civic body is planning to introduce a Rs 5 user charge per person for toilet facilities, while the use of public urinals will continue to remain free.

The proposed move follows a recent directive from the Odisha Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) Department, which instructed urban local bodies (ULBs) to implement a user-charge system for the proper maintenance and operation of public sanitation facilities.

Following the directive, the BMC has decided to convert its free public toilet services into a paid facility. Under the proposed system, only those using toilet facilities will be required to pay the charge, while users of urinals will not incur any fee.

BMC Mayor Sulochana Das said the proposal will be placed before the municipal body for approval. The revised fee structure is expected to come into effect after it receives formal clearance at the BMC meeting.

The civic body believes that introducing a user fee will help improve cleanliness, maintenance and overall management of public toilets, while ensuring better sanitation services for citizens.

The proposed move is likely to draw mixed reactions from residents. Once approved, the new system will be applicable to all BMC-managed public toilets across the city, with detailed operational guidelines expected to be issued before implementation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda