GUWAHATI: The Smart Bio Toilet facility under the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) in the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) campus has been reported to be non-functional.
The facility, which was put in place to cater to the sanitary needs of the public, has been out of service for over a month, according to sources on the ground.
A worker at the GMDA campus, who spoke to G Plus, expressed his frustration, saying, "This has not been working for a month here and no one bothers to check this."
He further highlighted the lack of attention given to the maintenance of the facility, which has left users inconvenienced and disillusioned.
The issue isn't pertinent to those working on campus alone. It has also affected residents in the surrounding areas.
A resident of Rupnagar shared her distressing experience. She said, "As I inserted the coin to use the facility it did not function accordingly. The coin got stuck."
She further questioned the purpose of the installation if the facility doesn't function as promised.
"Then why is it installed if it doesn't work?" she asked, reflecting the sentiments of many who have faced similar issues.
The Smart Bio Toilet is equipped with an automatic payment collection system, which is supposed to unlock the door once the necessary fee is paid. However, with coins getting stuck and the facility not responding, users are left stranded without access to the service they paid for.
Speaking to G Plus, a GSCL official stated, "The company who previously installed does not have the annual maintenance contract now so we have given it to another company. The name of the new company is Advaita Foundation. If it is viable for them, they will make amends."
This scenario raises serious questions about the maintenance and management of public utilities. It also underscores the need for timely and proactive checks to ensure that these facilities are functioning as they should be.