A public toilet complex on the premises of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (GH) has been closed due to its proximity to the newly-opened Amma canteen.
While hospital authorities said the toilet was closed to keep the surroundings of the canteen clean and hygienic, visitors to the hospital said it was causing them difficulties.
The toilet is one of only two such facilities available for outpatients and visitors to the hospital. The other bathroom-cum-toilet complex, which has about six toilets, is also located near the Amma Canteen but is further away and has been kept open as of now. However, a partition has been placed between it and the canteen.
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Every day, 10,000 outpatients and thousands of visitors walk in and out of GH. Several visitors and staff members said it was extremely inconvenient for patients to access the toilet complex, as it was constantly crowded in the morning and the six cubicles in it were not sufficient.
“Both the facilities were closed for sometime before the inauguration of the canteen. At that time, some visitors went as far as Walltax Road in search of toilets,” said a hospital employee.
A staff member said the situation was especially bad for women when there was a huge inflow of outpatients and visitors. He said at least 70 per cent of the visitors came from other districts and relied on the facilities at the hospital.
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“The existing toilets are clean but it will be helpful if the other toilet is also kept open,” said Meena, a visitor.
A hospital official said the existing toilet complex was more than sufficient for visitors. Another official said the closed complex was old, and that there are plans to construct more toilets for visitors.