Bengaluru: Bengaluru has only 800–900 public toilets for a population of over 1.4 crore, translating to roughly one public toilet for every 25,000 to 30,000 people, according to a public toilet audit released by the Bengaluru Political Action Committee (B.PAC) on Wednesday.

The report, based on an audit conducted during April and May 2026 by B.PAC’s civic leaders and student volunteer initiative B.CLIP, paints a concerning picture of the city’s public sanitation infrastructure.

Many toilets non-functional and poorly maintained

The audit assessed 142 public toilets across Central, North, South and West Bengaluru and found that 37 toilets were completely non-functional.

Only six toilets were rated as “Very Clean”, while 58 per cent of the facilities had a persistent foul odour. The report also found that only 56 per cent of toilets had adequate lighting, raising serious safety concerns, particularly for women.

Water was available in only about 40 per cent of functional toilets, while none had soap dispensers or dustbins.

Accessibility remains a major concern

The study revealed that only nine toilets had ramps, making nearly 94 per cent of the city’s public toilets inaccessible to persons with disabilities.

It also found that only 15 per cent of caretakers were women, while information on contractors and user charges was largely absent, reducing public accountability.

B.PAC calls for urgent action

B.PAC has urged the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to launch a 30-day repair drive to restore all non-functional toilets and establish a dedicated Public Toilet Management Cell to oversee planning, maintenance and monitoring.

The organisation has also recommended shifting from construction-focused contracts to five-year operation and maintenance agreements, ensuring uninterrupted water supply, lighting, cleanliness and better facilities.

B.CLIP Head Raghavendra Poojari H.S. called for the construction of over 1,000 modern, inclusive public toilets through public-private partnerships, particularly at bus stations, Metro stations, markets, parks and other high-footfall areas.

B.PAC CEO Revathi Ashok said Bengaluru cannot aspire to be a global city while neglecting basic civic amenities such as public sanitation.