A public toilet at CRP Square in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Last year the General Assembly of the United Nations declared November 19 as World Toilet Day. The day is observed with an aim to sensitise people on the need to maintain hygiene and right to privacy and dignity. The Telegraph scans several places across Bhubaneswar to check the status of some public toilets

BDA bus terminal (City bus terminal) The place receives huge footfall everyday and 200 buses ply from here daily. However, the public toilet here is very small and lying in a shambles. The other toilet near the city bus depot is used exclusively by staff of Dream Team Shahara.

Railway station The public toilet near the railway station is run by an agency in collaboration with the civic body. However, because of its inconvenient location at the far end of the station, most passengers prefer to defecate in the open near parking lots for autorickshaws and two-wheeler.

Priyadarshini Market near CRP Square The municipal corporation runs the lone public toilet at this busy market place. This toilet, which keeps off users for its unhygienic condition, lies locked for most of the time. People complain that despite raising the issue with the authorities, the corporation officials didn’t act on it.

Baramunda bus terminal The toilet near the main terminal building at the state’s biggest bus stand is in private hands and functions smoothly. However, the toilet for women is inside the main building and lies defunct. The transport department has sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore to revamp it but work is yet to begin.

XIMB Square It’s located at one of the most sought after locations in Bhubaneswar. With a top management college, administrative staff college and Fortune Towers located nearby, the public toilet was developed to cater to the people. However, people say that it remains locked for most of the day and is not maintained properly.

Chandrashekharpur The toilet is located in front of the petrol pump in Chandrashekharpur. Though located in a busy area, the toilet is rarely used and has become a den for goons.

Text by Bibhuti Barik and Sandip Bal