BMRCL introduces pay-and-use system for restrooms at Metro stations

BENGALURU: The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) move to introduce pay-and-use toilets at several Metro stations has sparked outrage among commuters. The BMRCL has signed an agreement with a private company for management of restrooms and a charge of Rs 2 and Rs 5 has been fixed at 12 Metro stations.

The pay-and-use toilets are at the National College, Lalbagh, South End Circle, Jayanagar, Rashtriya Vidyalaya Road, Banashankari, Jayaprakash Nagar, Yelachenahalli, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Station, Central College, Dr Ambedkar Station, Vidhana Soudha, Cubbon Park, and Majestic stations.

The decision has been met with widespread criticism from the public, with many questioning the logic behind charging people for using toilets. “Instead of reducing unnecessary expenses, is it right to collect money from people for using toilets? Don’t Metro staff use these toilets?” people are asking.

BMRCL officials have defended the decision, saying that the toilets are located in areas that can be accessed without a Metro ticket, and therefore, non-Metro passengers are also using them. They have handed over the maintenance of these toilets to a private company called Sulabh International.

ಇದೇ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ ನೀಡಲಾದ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಪ್ರಕಟಣೆಯ ಮುಂದುವರಿಕೆಯಾಗಿ, ನೇರಳೆ ಮಾರ್ಗದ ವೈಟ್‌ಫೀಲ್ಡ್ (ಕಾಡುಗೋಡಿ) ಮತ್ತು ಚೆಲ್ಲಘಟ್ಟ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣಗಳ ನಡುವೆ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯ ಸೇವೆ ಬೆಳಿಗ್ಗೆ 9:55 ಗಂಟೆಯಿಂದ ಎಂದಿನಂತೆ ನಡೆಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.

— ನಮ್ಮ ಮೆಟ್ರೋ (@OfficialBMRCL) May 23, 2025

Meanwhile, the Namma Metro service was disrupted at the Whitefield Metro station on the Purple Line on Friday morning due to a technical snag. The service was suspended at this station since 5 am, but services continued normally at other stations. Trains were operated only between Hope Farm Channasandra and Challaghatta stations on the Purple Line till normalcy was restored. Normal services continued on the Green Line.