Pune: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken strong objection to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) decision to approve a ₹4.31 crore project for the construction of five air-conditioned public toilets across the city. The proposed restrooms will feature amenities such as WiFi connectivity and charging points for mobiles and laptops.
The new toilet blocks are slated for development at five locations: Katraj Chowk (₹86.11 lakh), Balewadi (₹86.25 lakh), Shewalwadi Bus Depot (₹86.35 lakh), Pune Railway Station (₹86.08 lakh), and Wagholi (₹86.40 lakh).
In a press release, AAP Maharashtra spokesperson Mukund Kirdat criticised the move, stating that citizens have been consistently demanding clean and accessible sanitation facilities—not luxurious ones.
“There has been no public demand for air-conditioned toilets. What people need are clean, functional, and plentiful restrooms,” Kirdat said. “Instead of investing in flashy and costly facilities, the PMC should prioritise building more basic and affordable toilets throughout the city.”
He further questioned the PMC’s motivations, suggesting that such high-cost infrastructure projects may be more beneficial to contractors than to the general public. “Be it hospitals, schools, or toilets—when such expensive facilities are proposed, one wonders whether the real objective is public welfare or something else,” Kirdat added.
AAP’s criticism has sparked a broader debate about urban infrastructure priorities, with many residents echoing the call for practical and widespread public sanitation rather than limited, high-end installations.
