GHMC has spent crores maintaining public toilets that turned out to be non-functional or non-existent — of a claimed 2,260 to 5,299 toilet seats, only around 400 were actually functional. In 2021 GHMC installed 2,260 temporary toilets that were reportedly "not opened for public use and were used for erecting banners," with many lacking water and sewerage connections.
On record
The official record states: "GHMC officials attributed delays to the Covid-19 pandemic and said "payments for non-functioning toilets were not made to the contractor," claiming penalties were issued for maintenance lapses."
Filed as "Non-functional / never opened (many units)" and dated to Ongoing since 2014; scandal reported 2023, this entry sits under the "₹56.56 crore spent since 2014 (₹25.25 crore in preceding two years; ₹25.52 crore paid to private maintenance firms)" line of the public accounts.
What to expect
- A facility whose working hours remain a well-kept secret.
- Tiling chosen, evidently, for its resale value elsewhere.
- A queue that forms out of habit more than hope.
- Signage in three languages, none of them helpful.
Sourcing
2 public sources — news reports, RTI replies and civic archives — corroborate this entry. The citation trail is listed below for anyone who would like to follow up with the department concerned.
“The engineers signed the drawings; the monsoon signed the appeal.”— Blunderlust Editorial Desk
Sources
- https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/080523/ghmc-flushes-crores-of-tax-money-down-toilets-that-dont-exist.html
- https://www.siasat.com/ghmc-toilets-lie-useless-in-utter-neglect-across-hyderabad-2227461/
Visitor reviews
“Put it on the itinerary as a joke, and it earned its spot. This project's golden age was the planning stage.”
“Saw it trending in a local group and had to check it out. It made me want to read an RTI reply, which is not nothing.”
“Went the day after reading a very stern newspaper editorial about it. The crane had not moved between my two visits, a year apart.”
