Delhi government launches contest for designing public toilets

After transportation, sanitation is in focus for the AAP government in the national capital. Close on the heels of its premium AC bus service move, the city government is now planning to involve public participation in designing public toilets through a contest.

The winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and will be attached with the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) for a period of six months to work on the project on a monthly remuneration of Rs 25,000. The government has initiated the process to set up 10,000 toilets in the slum clusters of the capital.

A senior officer said DUSIB has sought designs from firms and individuals for innovative toilets and on offer is a reward of Rs 50,000 to the winner and Rs 25,000 to the second . The intending firms and individuals have been asked to submit their proposals along with detailed architectural drawings, including specifications and financial parameters to the DUSIB by 3 pm on June 15.

The DUSIB’s public notice says the design must focus on robustness against vandalism and rough use, including identification of low cost solutions for finish, fittings and fixtures. The designs should demonstrate innovations including efficient use of water, ventilation and daylight utilisation, ease of hygiene and cleanliness, adequate prevention against storm water and effective surface drainage.

Other important conditions are that there should be a separate provision for men and women. The toilet complex should be children friendly and discourage anti-social activities. The complexes should also be disabled friendly for users, including pregnant women and senior citizens. The government’s decision to set up toilets comes in the wake of reports that more than 675 slum clusters in the city had been facing a serious problem of open defecation. It has now sought architectural concepts on modular designs for construction of 35 to 40 seat toilet complexes in two categories of permanent and semi-permanent pre-fabricated structures.