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.
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