‘Build a Flyover Just to Reach the Toilet’: Residents Outraged Over Municipal Corporation’s Absurd Move in Bhopal

Bhopal: Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is increasingly becoming a city of bizarre occurrences. In the city’s Aishbagh area, the Municipal Corporation has constructed a peculiar public toilet right next to the ’90-Degree Bridge.’ Specifically, the Corporation built a ‘Sulabh Shauchalay’ (public convenience) on railway land located within Ward No. 40, near the 90-Degree Bridge. Just as the facility was nearing completion, the Railway Department erected a boundary wall directly in front of it. Consequently, the public toilet now sits enclosed behind the wall, rendering it completely inaccessible to the public.

It is worth noting that while the construction of the public toilet was underway, local residents had lodged objections with the Municipal Corporation, pointing out that the site belonged to the Railways and that no construction should take place there. However, Municipal Corporation officials turned a deaf ear to these concerns and proceeded to build the facility on railway property regardless. The inevitable result was that just as the toilet was on the verge of completion, the Railways went ahead and constructed their boundary wall.

Now, the funds invested by the Municipal Corporation in building this toilet will go entirely to waste. Local residents are expressing deep outrage over this act of gross irresponsibility. Addressing the local Councilor and the Municipal Corporation, they sarcastically ask: “Is the Municipal Corporation now going to build a flyover bridge to reach this toilet, or perhaps construct an underpass beneath it?”

Social activist Almas Ali stated, “We had indeed requested the Municipal Corporation to construct a public toilet; however, they chose to build it specifically on railway land. Now that the Railways have erected their boundary wall, we are unable to access or utilize the facility.”