Pvt contractors to be roped in for maintenance of MTC depots, toilets

For the past many years, the cash-starved MTC has neglected the maintenance of its terminuses and depots. The commuters have always complained that the depots are strewn with garbage and the public toilets remain unclean with a strong stench.

In this situation, MTC has now invited bids for maintaining common toilets and upkeep of its facilities across the city. A senior MTC official said that the contract proposal was part of its plan to improve the passenger amenities and crew members’ convenience at the restrooms in the depots. The official said that the one-year contract would be given to a successful bidder to keep the facilities clean and tidy by sweeping and mopping all the common areas round-the-clock. “The contractor should appoint workers to maintain and upkeep common toilets in 39 depots and terminuses apart from ensuring urinals and washbasins are cleaned using disinfectants,” the official said.

K Shanmugham, a commuter at Guindy bus terminus welcomed the decision of the transport corporation to appoint a contractor for maintaining the depots and public toilet. “The public toilet at the Guindy terminus is poorly maintained and the commuters could be seen relieving themselves at roadside,” he said.

At Saidapet, a bus conductor said, that the terminus was one of the oldest in the city, but does not have a toilet for either the commuters or crew members. “In the terminus, we don’t even have a toilet. After travelling on the bus for an hour or so, where will the driver and the conductor relieve themselves if there is no toilet? The MTC management has no concern for the drivers and the conductors at all,” the conductor said, adding that all the terminus should have a restroom with toilet facilities.