Dirty toilets at bus stands will cost departmental controllers dear, warns Transport Minister Sarnaik

If toilets at ST bus stands are not kept clean, the departmental controller concerned will be held responsible. Transport Minister and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation Chairman Pratap Sarnaik has issued this direction. He said providing passengers with clean, healthy and hygienic facilities is the corporation's basic responsibility, and no compromise on cleanliness will be tolerated.

Sarnaik was speaking at a cleanliness review meeting at the ST Corporation headquarters. Department heads, regional managers and departmental controllers of the corporation were present.

The minister reminded the meeting that the ST Corporation charges passengers a cleanliness surcharge of Rs 2. In return, passengers expect at least basic cleanliness facilities. Keeping toilets at bus stops clean and looking after passengers' health is therefore the administration's responsibility, Sarnaik said. According to him, there should be no laxity in cleaning toilets. He asked the officials concerned to work harder to meet passengers' legitimate expectations.

Sarnaik also said toilets at bus stops should be inspected regularly and cleaning work should be monitored continuously. The contractor organisation that has been awarded the work should be made to clean according to the terms of the contract.

He made it clear that the responsibility for cleanliness cannot be left to the contractor alone. The officials concerned must themselves ensure that bus stops under their jurisdiction are cleaned regularly. If passengers do not get clean facilities, the responsibility of the departmental controller concerned will be fixed, he said.

Sarnaik said the ST is an essential support for the daily travel of ordinary people. The corporation should therefore give priority to clean bus stands and hygienic facilities, along with safe and comfortable travel. Finally, he appealed to the administration to work with greater sensitivity and responsibility to give passengers good facilities.