After fare charts outside railway urinals popped up on August 1— that levied anything between Rs 1-Rs 5 depending on the station — MNS yesterday staged a protest at CR headquarters over the issue

It is truly time for equality, as now, even men will have to pay for using the urinals at railway stations. While earlier, contractors were illegally charging Rs 1 or Rs 2 for the use of a men’s urinal, and unaware people simply ponied up, the Central Railway has now made it official. After fare charts outside railway urinals popped up on August 1— that levied anything between Rs 1-Rs 5 depending on the station — the MNS yesterday staged a protest at the Central Railway headquarters over the issue.

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One of the men’s urinals at a Central line station

Additionally, for washroom and bathing facilities, the charges now stand between Rs 5 and Rs 15.

Angry commuters

The decision has angered commuters, who were seen arguing with the contractors. In protest, even the railway orders posted outside the toilets have been torn off. To appease commuters, the contractors are therefore only charging those urinals currently where users are not resisting payment.

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Differential rates

The commuters are questioning the grounds on which CR is charging the use of these urinals considering the quality of the infrastructure, overall sanitation conditions and the varied fare slabs. At smaller stations like Mulund, using the toilet is only being charged Rs 2, while the same at CST is Rs 5. The same goes for the washroom facilities: It’s Rs 5 at Mulund, Rs 15 at CST.

Activists speak

Subhash Gupta, president, Rail Yatri Sangh said, “It is wrong to charge for the urinals. This will severely affect the passengers who use it frequently.”

Arvind Gawade, a local MNS activist, noted, “People will stop using toilets and instances of peeing behind buildings, along the rail tracks and secluded places shall increase.”

CR’s side

“We have allowed a charge for urinal to provide better sanitation. In the coming days and months, we shall be improving the infrastructure and facility to justify the fare being levied,” said Narendra Patil, chief spokesperson of CR.