How Many Public Toilets Does Bengaluru Have? Audit Finds Just 1 Toilet for Every 25,000-30,000 People
Bengaluru has only around 800-900 public toilets for a population exceeding 1.4 crore, leaving one public toilet for every 25,000-30,000 residents, according to a B.PAC audit. The report highlights poor maintenance, hygiene, accessibility and safety at existing facilities, while recommending urgent repairs and construction of over 1,000 modern public toilets across the city.
Bengaluru, home to more than 1.4 crore people, has only around 800–900 public toilets, translating to roughly one public toilet for every 25,000–30,000 residents, according to a public toilet audit released on Wednesday by the Bengaluru Political Action Committee (B.PAC). The report highlights significant gaps in the city's sanitation infrastructure despite its rapid urban growth.
The audit, conducted during April and May 2026 by B.PAC's civic leaders and student volunteer initiative B.CLIP, assessed 142 public toilets across Central, North, South and West Bengaluru. It evaluated functionality, hygiene, accessibility, safety and overall user experience, identifying widespread shortcomings in the existing infrastructure. Bengaluru Latest News Today on July 22nd, 2026: Toll Hike, GBA Attack Arrest & Metro Delays.
Audit Highlights Poor Condition Of Public Toilets
The report found that 37 of the 142 public toilets surveyed were completely non-functional. "Only six toilets were rated 'Very Clean'. 58 per cent of toilets have persistent foul odour. Only 56 per cent of toilets are adequately lit, raising significant safety concerns, especially for women," the report said.
According to the findings, only nine toilets had ramps, making nearly 94 per cent of the facilities inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Uber to Open Two New Tech Centres in Bengaluru and Hyderabad by 2027: CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Announces.
Water was available in only around 40 per cent of functional toilets, while none of the toilets had soap dispensers or dustbins, raising concerns over hygiene and maintenance.
The audit also noted that only 15 per cent of caretakers were women, while contractor information and user charges were largely absent, limiting public accountability.
B.PAC Calls For Urgent Civic Action
"Bengaluru's sanitation challenge is no longer merely about constructing toilets-it is about ensuring that existing facilities remain functional, safe, inclusive and well maintained," B.PAC said.
Among its key recommendations, the organisation urged civic authorities to launch a 30-day emergency repair campaign to restore all non-functional public toilets.
It also proposed the creation of a single Public Toilet Management Cell under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) to oversee planning, monitoring and maintenance across the city.
The report further recommended replacing "Build-Only" contracts with five-year Operate & Maintain contracts, backed by strict performance monitoring and contract termination in cases of poor maintenance.
Focus On Accessibility And Women's Safety
B.PAC urged the Greater Bengaluru Authority to ensure uninterrupted water supply, adequate lighting, soap dispensers, dustbins and regular maintenance at every public toilet.
The organisation also called for the development of women-friendly and gender-inclusive public toilets, including She-Toilets and facilities for transgender persons.
Additionally, it recommended greater community participation by involving Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs), Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and citizen groups in monitoring public sanitation facilities.
Call For More Than 1,000 New Public Toilets
B.CLIP Head Raghavendra Poojari H S urged the state government and the Greater Bengaluru Authority to construct more than 1,000 modern, user-friendly, inclusive and well-maintained public toilets through the GBA and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
He also appealed for priority to be given to high-footfall locations such as bus stations, metro stations, markets, parks, tourist destinations and construction sites while planning new facilities.
B.PAC CEO Revathi Ashok underlined that if Bengaluru aspires to be a global city, it cannot afford to overlook these fundamental civic necessities.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2026 04:55 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
