Freedom from stench: New airport toilet blocks to make your journey a breeze

Kolkata: Following long-standing complaints from passengers about the poor quality of washrooms at Kolkata airport, a brand new set of modernised toilet blocks was inaugurated at the terminal building on Thursday.Equipped with the latest toiletries and contemporary design features, airport officials said the upgrade was a part of a planned infrastructure development programme to refurbish all the existing toilet blocks inside the airport."Passengers have time and again flagged concerns and complaints about the quality of washrooms at the Kolkata airport. We took note of their complaints and are in the process of replacing all existing toilet blocks with new ones, which are set to last longer and have a fresh new look. All the new toilets will be built in the same design," said airport director Pravat Ranjan Beuria.Beuria said the new set of toilets was inaugurated by a group of passengers as a symbolic gesture, as it comes in response to long-standing complaints over the subpar condition of washrooms at the airport. The airport has 28 toilet blocks. Of them, five blocks are brand new, and four more were already renovated. Six other blocks are under renovation, and the rest will also be renovated and refurbished by the end of this year, airport officials said.The new washrooms have a modern vanity area with rectangular sinks and motion-sensor taps. The mirrors are backlit with soft lighting, adding a sleek and upscale feel to the restroom. There are also recessed ceiling lights and LED accents in the ceiling design, giving a clean and bright ambiance. A decorative vertical garden panel has also been placed in the new toilet blocks with modern aesthetics and functionality in mind — neutral tones, ambient lighting, and smart fixtures."The Rs 5-crore project comprises the demolition and reconstruction of existing toilets with new floor and wall tiles, sanitaryware, and fixtures. Basins made of acrylic solid surface that were installed earlier are being replaced by ceramic ones, as the former ones were stained by gutka and paan spits," said another airport official.Officials said housekeeping staffers were being trained and motivated to maintain the cleanliness of toilets to keep them stain and stink-free. "We are monitoring the functioning of the agency that has been contracted to do the housekeeping work. Action will be taken if maintenance is not up to the mark," said an official. Of the 80 individual toilets, 20 are on the arrival level and 60 in departure. This includes 28 washrooms each for men and women and 24 for the physically disabled.