BUSINESS MODEL 4 PUBLIC TOILETS

BIKASH CHOUDHURY

 Stinking public urinal at Red Fort, an important tourist attraction sums up the condition of hygiene in National Capital Region. Aam Aadmi Party rightly promised to construct two lakh public toilets in Delhi in their election manifesto. Allocating public funds for such a gigantic project may be impossible in short term. Though, the need for such public convenience can’t be emphasized more for Delhi, being the National Capital and need for Hygiene is paramount as the city is the window to the World.

                                   However, there is a need for a new Business Model which not only provides the facility of world class public urinals/toilets; but, maintains them in a sustainable manner. Delhi Govt. could rope in a corporate partner for such project and create a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the same. Delhi Govt. could provide initial funding through its budget and balance could be raised by the corporate partner through equity, debt, investment and even donations from residents and NRI. Apart from initial funding, Delhi Govt. could provide necessary land at designated place for the project and the revenue model could look at the nominal user charges, advertising revenue from the signage at each public toilet location and sale of toiletries. Such a project could rope in Delhi Homeless, Physically challenged and unemployed youth for the upkeep of facilities. A clean & green Delhi apart from providing much needed public convenience with public toilet project could attract more domestic & international tourists in future.