The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Pink Toilet project aims to give women clean and safe public restrooms. So far, about 70% of the work is done, with 15 out of 21 planned toilets completed. These toilets are hygienic and have useful features like sanitary napkin vending machines, mirrors, and women-friendly designs.
However, many women are finding it hard to use them because there’s no proper parking nearby. In many areas, toilet entrances are either blocked by local vendors or marked with ‘No Parking’ signs. Women who stop their vehicles even for a short time are sometimes fined or have their vehicles towed.
“This is a big problem,” said Rajvi Dolariya, a working woman. “The Pink Toilets are great, but if we can’t park near them, how are we supposed to use them, especially when in a hurry?”
She pointed out the toilet near Law Garden as an example, where vendors block the way and there’s no place to park even for a couple of minutes.
Another issue is the limited timing. The toilets are open only from 8:00 am to 8:00 or 10:00 pm. This is a problem for women who may need them early in the morning or late at night. Renuka Tekwani, another working woman, said, “Public toilets are often needed during emergencies. The short timings don’t help working women or travelers who are out at odd hours.”
In short, even though the Pink Toilets are well-designed and helpful, lack of parking and limited hours make them hard to use for many women.