MCD junks plan to build toilets with eating joints

The MCD has informed the Delhi high court that it has scrapped the much-hyped and first-of-its-kind fancy toilets project planned for the Capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games. Harish V Nair reports.

The MCD has informed the Delhi high court that it has scrapped the much-hyped and first-of-its-kind fancy toilets project planned for the Capital ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

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Initially, 218 of air conditioned complexes were planned. The plan was to build toilet on the ground floor and set up an eating joint, a flower outlet and a multi-brand shop on the first floor. But only eight could be built after protests from from RWAs and traders stalled construction of others. The bone of contention was that the land chosen for such projects were either parkings in market areas or parks.

"Considering various objections, the project has been scrapped. The tenders and bank guarantees have been returned to the bidders," said an affidavit filed by the MCD on Wednesday. The affidavit was submitted in response to a PIL filed by N-Block Welfare Association of Greater Kailash-1 seeking demolition of the two toilet blocks built on the 1,200-sq-ft parking area of the local market.

“The whole exercise in the name of the Games was a clear attempt to hand over prime land across Delhi for commercial misuse. It is nothing but a clear violation of the Delhi Master Plan 2021, which found parking space scarce in Delhi. The plan also prohibits commercial use of public place. The constructions are therefore illegal,” association’s lawyer Ashok Sethi argued.

The MCD admits since necessary clearances were not taken the existing eight facilities will only be used as toilets. “We do not need such big illegal toilet complexes, which will eat into parking space,” said Sethi, adding that he will seek their demolition on May 10, the next date of hearing.