Bengaluru: Poorly maintained public toilets across Bengaluru are forcing thousands of commuters, delivery workers, bus staff and auto drivers to choose between using unhygienic facilities and risking their health by avoiding them altogether.
A recent survey of 142 public toilets found that one in four facilities was non-functional, while 58 per cent suffered from persistent foul odour, highlighting the city’s growing sanitation challenge.
Daily users face health risks
For many frontline workers, public toilets are a necessity rather than a choice.
Sudha, a BMTC conductor with 28 years of service, said she has suffered repeated urinary tract infections due to unhygienic toilets.
“I have contracted urinary infections multiple times. Now, I consciously avoid drinking water so that I don’t have to use public toilets frequently,” she said.
Women commuters also complained about poor water supply, overflowing dustbins, broken latches and inadequate disposal of sanitary waste at facilities near Kempegowda Bus Station.
Delivery executive Shekar said he stopped using a public toilet in Shantinagar after developing a urinary infection.
“A doctor advised me not to use such facilities again,” he said.
Avoiding toilets creates new health concerns
Medical experts warn that avoiding toilets or limiting water intake can have serious consequences.
Dr Deepthi Ashwin, Senior Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said holding urine and drinking less water significantly increases the risk of urinary tract infections, particularly among women.
She also noted that inadequate access to clean toilets affects menstrual hygiene, especially where water, soap and sanitary waste disposal facilities are unavailable.
Doctors advise people to choose the cleanest available toilet, avoid touching contaminated surfaces, wash hands thoroughly and carry disinfectant wipes whenever possible.
Maintenance remains a challenge
Experts believe poor maintenance is linked to inadequate support for sanitation workers.
According to Prahlad I. M., co-coordinator of the Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action (SOCHARA), many cleaners are employed on contract and often face delayed wages, affecting upkeep.
A 2026 audit by NGO Stand4SHE found that some sanitation workers even live inside public toilet complexes because they cannot afford accommodation. The organisation said many earn only around ₹9,000 a month, with salaries often delayed.
Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML) has introduced a new ‘EEZEE’ public toilet on Tank Bund Road, featuring wheelchair access, facilities for all genders and an odour-control system, offering a model for future public sanitation infrastructure.