AURANGABAD: The constant persuasion from women residents and corporators for a public restroom at Aurangapura from the last two years finally bore fruit as the civic administration inaugurated the restroom on Saturday. Four other women toilets that have been proposed are far from ready.With Nirala Bazaar at one side and Aurangapura market on the other, Aurangapura was in dire need of a public restroom for businesswomen and shoppers for which a washroom was proposed in front of S B College. However, the work that was expected to be ready by last year could not take off.When AMC engineers cited one or the other reason for the dealy in the work, corporators Kirti Shinde, Smita Ghoghre, Ashamed Nikalje and Samina Shaikh took the matter in their hands by raising the issue in the general body meeting. After shifting deadlines six to seven times this year, Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) made the women’s toilet available for use from Saturday.The restroom, built in collaboration with an NGO, comprises a toilet exclusively for women, a disabled-friendly toilet and a changing room. It will be operated on pay and use basis.AMC executive engineer Afsar Siddiqui said that the washroom has been equipped with a borewell to meet water requirments. “We will build a room for a caretaker on top of the toilet. The caretaker along with his family will monitor the maintenance and cleaning of the toilet,” said Siddiqui.The toilets are equipped with ramp and railing for the convenience of persons with limited capabilities. AMC plans to charge Rs 5 to Rs 7 for using the washroom. A decision on the charges is yet to be taken.Chairperson of women and child development committee Madhuri Adwant said that AMC would install a vending and disposal machines for sanitary pads.Meanwhile, the civic body has not been able to provide toilets for women proposed at Paithan Gate, Botanical Garden (N-8 Cidco), Seven Hills Flyover (inside the fire station) and Bibi Ka Maqbara Siddiqui said that the outstanding payment of the toilet work at Botanical Garden hasn’t been released for the last 16 months. “The contractor has stopped the work in want of funds and our department cannot do anything about it,” he said.Tenders for the toilets at Paithan Gate and Seven Hills have not received any response. Archaeological Survey of India is waiting for its head office’s permission for toilets at Bibi Ka Maqbara.

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