Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Salt Lake Toilet Shortages Raise Hygiene Concerns Amid Fine
The government wants people to stop urinating in public and has introduced a Rs 200 fine.
Many residents ask where they should go when they need a toilet during a journey.
Some public toilets are hard to find, closed, dirty, or too far away.
Women are especially worried about cleanliness and safety.
Toilet workers say some facilities are not used enough and can be misused.
New Town has bright red container toilets that are easier to spot, but they cost Rs 5 each time.
Some people say this is too expensive when they spend all day working outside.
Residents and workers agree that toilets need better cleaning, signs, opening hours, and maintenance.
West Bengal began imposing a Rs 200 fine for public urination from September 1.
Residents say public toilets are too scarce, poorly signposted, or difficult to access across Salt Lake and New Town.
Officials and toilet operators say facilities exist but are often underused, misused, or closed outside limited hours.
Women avoid many public toilets because of dirty floors, broken doors, poor maintenance, and fears of infection.
New Town’s red container toilets charge Rs 5 and operate from 9am to 10pm, but users still report affordability and upkeep problems.
- Who
- Residents, commuters, workers, toilet attendants, and local authorities in Salt Lake and New Town are involved.
- What
- A Rs 200 public-urination fine has highlighted shortages, poor access, limited opening hours, and hygiene problems at public toilets.
- When
- The fine began on September 1; New Town’s container toilets were installed in 2021 and operate from 9am to 10pm.
- Where
- Salt Lake, New Town, Sector V, and nearby areas of Kolkata.
- Why
- The policy aims to keep the city clean, while residents say enforcement is unfair without enough visible, affordable, clean, and accessible toilets.
Critics of Enforcement Without Infrastructure
Supporters of Stronger Enforcement
Whether fines are fair
Critics of Enforcement Without Infrastructure
Residents argue that the Rs 200 fine cannot be enforced fairly unless toilets are available roughly every two kilometres, clearly marked, and open when needed.
Supporters of Stronger Enforcement
Toilet operators argue that stiff fines may be necessary to persuade people to use existing pay-and-use facilities rather than urinating in public.
Availability of toilets
Critics of Enforcement Without Infrastructure
Commuters and residents say toilets are too few, difficult to spot, closed at important times, or unavailable in markets, parks, offices, and shopping areas.
Supporters of Stronger Enforcement
Sulabh International’s site in-charge says several facilities exist in crowded areas and places frequently affected by public urination, but people do not always use them.
Why facilities are underused
Critics of Enforcement Without Infrastructure
Women and other users say dirty floors, bad smells, broken doors, Indian-style toilets, and fears of infection make public facilities unacceptable.
Supporters of Stronger Enforcement
Attendants say some toilets become paan or gutka shops or are misused at night, and suggest stronger penalties and live-in attendants to keep them usable.
- Public-urination fine
- Rs 200, imposed from September 1
- New Town container toilets
- Installed in 2021 from discarded shipping containers
- Container toilet fee
- Rs 5 per use
- Container toilet hours
- 9am to 10pm
- Reported user ratio
- Attendants estimated male users outnumber female users about 10 to 1
- Common users
- Auto, rickshaw, and app-cab drivers
- Reported problems
- Poor signage, dirt, broken locks, closures, misuse, and inadequate maintenance