PMC Elections: Citizens Demand Public Toilets on Pune’s FC Road and Jangli Maharaj Road
Shivajinagar, 14th January 2026: Citizens have demanded the immediate provision of public toilets on Namdar Gopal Krishna Gokhale Road and Jangli Maharaj Road, two of Pune’s busiest arterial roads, citing daily inconvenience faced by students, office-goers, street vendors and senior citizens. With the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections approaching, residents are urging political parties to treat public sanitation as a priority civic issue.
Despite being located in the city’s core and hosting reputed educational institutions, theatres and offices of several national and international companies, both roads lack easily accessible public toilets. Existing facilities near Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Garden and Pulachi Wadi are situated away from Jangli Maharaj Road and are difficult for commuters to locate. The recent demolition of a women’s toilet near the Ranade Institute on Gokhale Road has further heightened public concern.
Gokhale Road witnesses heavy pedestrian movement due to institutions such as Fergusson College, the foreign languages department of Savitribai Phule Pune University, Artist Katta and several other academic centres. Jangli Maharaj Road remains crowded throughout the day because of COEP, the Bal Gandharva Theatre and multiple corporate offices up to Garware Circle. Citizens say the absence of basic sanitation facilities on such prominent roads points to serious gaps in urban planning.
Medical professionals have warned that the lack of timely access to toilets forces many people to limit their water intake, increasing the risk of digestive issues, urinary tract infections and bladder-related health problems. The uncertainty surrounding toilet access also causes mental stress, particularly among women.
A student who commutes daily via Gokhale Road (FC Road) said, “The problem is faced every day. There is constant fear until we reach college. This is not acceptable in a city like Pune.” Commuters using Jangli Maharaj Road have expressed similar concerns.
Senior citizens and street vendors have also joined the demand. Vendors say they are often compelled to leave their stalls unattended and walk long distances in search of a toilet. A vendor operating on Gokhale Road for the past 14 years said, “The civic body collects taxes from us but fails to provide even basic facilities. Public toilets should be available on every busy road.”
Students have also called for better awareness regarding toilets available in hotels and cafés along these routes.
“Many students coming from rural areas feel embarrassed and uncomfortable. The corporation must ensure proper signage and permanent solutions,” said Abhishek Londhe, a student.
Amol Bhinge, founder of the ‘Toilet Seva’ app, said citizens are willing to support workable solutions. “The app initially mapped PMC toilets and received a good response, but progress slowed due to administrative apathy. We are ready to work with the civic body to strengthen public toilet infrastructure, but the administration must take the lead,” he said, adding that the app has received positive responses at metro stations in Pune, Mumbai and Nagpur.
Citizens have now asserted that access to public toilets is a basic civic right and are seeking concrete assurances from political parties and the civic administration ahead of the municipal elections.
