Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will build five fully air-conditioned “VIP” smart toilets at city entry points, inspired by Nagpur’s model.
The first facility is under construction in Balewadi, with others planned for Shewalwadi, Wagholi, Swargate, and Katraj; each costing around ₹70–75 lakh.
Activists criticize the high cost, suggesting that more basic toilets with regular cleaning would serve the public better.
Pune 11 August 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is set to construct five high-end “VIP” smart toilets at key entry points to the city, modeled after similar facilities recently built in Nagpur.
The first project, located in Balewadi, is already underway, while proposals for Shewalwadi and Wagholi are awaiting approval from the standing committee. The remaining two sites, Swargate and Katraj, will follow once permissions are granted.
Each toilet will be fully air-conditioned and include modern bathrooms with changing rooms, charging points for electronic devices, Wi-Fi, and separate sections for men, women, and transgender individuals. The facilities will also be accessible for people with disabilities and staffed by caretakers for maintenance.
According to PMC’s solid waste department head Sandeep Kadam, the Balewadi project is expected to be completed within six months. The civic body has set aside ₹4.31 crore for all five toilets, with individual construction costs estimated between ₹70 and ₹75 lakh.
The project, however, has drawn criticism from civic activists. Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch argued that instead of spending over ₹4 crore on just five toilets, PMC should have built at least 20 basic public restrooms that are cleaned regularly, which he believes would benefit citizens more. Mukund Kirdat of the Aam Aadmi Party also alleged that such high-cost projects mainly serve the interests of contractors.
