Bhubaneswar: The municipal corporation has completed the construction of 44 toilet complexes that can accommodate 264 people in total at a time in various parts of the city under Project Samman.

"We have targeted the slum settlements for construction of the toilet complexes. So far we have completed the construction of 17 community toilets in some major slum areas. We have also constructed 27 public toilets for use of the general public," said a civic official.

The civic body has engaged sanitation committees in each of the wards for operation, maintenance and supervision of the toilet complexes.

The committees have also been entrusted to create awareness among slum-dwellers to stop open defecation and make use of these toilets.

The state government has directed the civic body to complete the construction of 100 more toilet complexes in various parts of the city before commencement of the men's hockey world cup in November. With the addition of 44 toilets, the city now has around 120 functional toilet complexes.

"We pledge to ensure access to safe, dignified and reliable sanitation solutions for both slum residents and visitors to the city, besides curbing the ills of open defecation. We have planned to construct nine more toilets under Project Samman. The rest will be done under the hybrid toilet project," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.