Ghaziabad’s claims of cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission are facing tough questions as several public toilets across the city lie broken, locked, or in unhygienic conditions, leaving residents frustrated and forcing many to avoid using them altogether.
Residents from trans-Hindon areas including GT Road, Link Road, Vaishali, Maharajpur, Rajendra Nagar, and Sahibabad have raised repeated complaints about public toilets remaining shut for months or emitting foul odours due to lack of maintenance.
Closed Toilets, Broken Urinals, No Accountability
Social activist Dr Sunil Vaidya has written to the Ghaziabad Municipal Commissioner highlighting the alarming condition of public sanitation infrastructure. According to his complaint, several public toilets that were meant to serve daily commuters and local residents are either non-functional or unusable.
Key locations flagged include:
Station Road, opposite GT Road Metro Pillar No. 245 – toilet shut for a long time
Link Road, opposite Tata Steel – public toilet locked
GDA Market, Vaishali Sector 2 – toilet in a dilapidated state
Vaishali and Maharajpur – urinals leaking continuously due to damaged roofs
In Vaishali Sector 1, the urinal opposite Allahabad Bank has remained broken for months, while another urinal near Ansal Plaza—constructed next to a drain—has been damaged for nearly eight months.
Residents Raise Repeated Complaints, No Action
Residents allege that despite multiple complaints through the 311 Ghaziabad app and direct communication with civic departments, the issues remain unresolved.
Surendra Kumar, a resident of Rajendra Nagar, described the situation as “complete civic apathy,” while Vivek Tyagi from Sahibabad said several public toilets in his area were routinely found locked, defeating their very purpose.
Swachh Bharat Mission Under Scanner
The condition of these toilets stands in sharp contrast to the objectives of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which aims to ensure accessible, hygienic public sanitation facilities in urban areas. Two years ago, Mayor Sunita Dayal had issued clear instructions to maintain public toilets, but residents say the ground reality tells a different story.
Public Health and Dignity at Stake
Urban planners and public health experts warn that non-functional public toilets not only cause inconvenience but also pose serious health risks, especially for women, senior citizens, and daily commuters.
As Ghaziabad continues to expand rapidly, citizens are now demanding strict monitoring, regular maintenance contracts, and accountability of officials to ensure public toilets remain open, clean, and functional.
For now, Ghaziabad’s broken toilets have become a stark reminder that cleanliness campaigns succeed only when promises are matched with sustained action on the ground.
