Children play at eco park in Patna. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, March 8: The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has once again floated tenders for the upkeep of parks and public toilets in the city.

The tenders would be awarded by March 15, PMC officials said today.

“The bidding amount for the maintenance of each park is between Rs 70,000 and Rs 80,000, depending upon the area. For the upkeep of 20 toilets, the amount has been set between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 4 lakh,” a senior corporation official said.

Officials maintained that after the renovation and developments of parks last year, they have become very popular among the residents.

“Shri Krishnapuri Park at Kidwaipuri, Manju Devi Park at Kankerbagh — (built in the memory of chief minister’s wife late Manju Kumari), Rajdhani Vatika Smriti Park and Mahatma Gandhinagar park in Kankerbagh have become the favourite spots for morning and evening walkers. These parks have been developed in the past few years. Rajdhani Vatika Smriti Park also has trees with religious significance,” the official added.

There are over 30 parks in the corporation area. The parks and roundabouts in the city are maintained by private players or NGOs which bag the tender but they always remain under the strict supervision of the civic body, said a PMC official.

As far as the deluxe toilets are concerned, sources said the state government has spent over Rs 5.25 crore to build 32 deluxe toilets in the state capital through Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited.

Twenty of them were later handed over to the PMC for maintenance while the other 12 remained dysfunctional, as the corporation did not take them over.

The PMC later outsourced the sanitation responsibility of the 20 toilet complexes to private parties.

Residents, however, are keeping their fingers crossed over the PMC move.

“The toilets are seldom cleaned and are mostly left without water. As a result, many people still prefer relieving themselves on the roadside, rather than using these toilets,” said Sharad Kumar, a resident of Bhikna Pahari.

On being asked about the residents’ concern, corporation officials said this time they will ensure the private players don’t get away after doing a shoddy job.

“Additional clauses have been included in the contract specifying the number of workers to be assigned the cleanliness work and the hours to be dedicated towards the job,” said a PMC official.