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Planning a long road trip involves more than checking fuel, routes and traffic. Access to clean, working toilets is also an important part of the journey. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stricter monitoring of toilet blocks and other facilities at toll plazas to improve cleanliness and ensure that problems are addressed on time.<\/p>\n
The measures, announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, require NHAI<\/a> officials to inspect these facilities at least once a week. Agencies responsible for maintaining them can face penalties if they fail to meet the prescribed standards.<\/p>\n What facilities should travellers expect?<\/strong><\/p>\n Motorists can look for toilet blocks at toll plazas and designated highway rest areas. Highway amenities may also include drinking water, parking, food outlets and restrooms, depending on the location. NHAI\u2019s July initiative to upgrade public toilets at toll plazas focuses on cleanliness, proper functioning and accessibility. The guidelines also provide for accessible toilets for persons with disabilities and measures to improve safety and privacy for women.<\/p>\n Who is responsible for maintaining highway toilets?<\/strong><\/p>\n At toll plazas covered by the latest monitoring mechanism, User Fee Collection Agencies appointed by NHAI<\/a> are responsible for meeting the prescribed service standards for toilets and other facilities.<\/p>\n NHAI officials are required to inspect the facilities at least once a week. If they find problems, the agency receives a show-cause notice and must fix the deficiencies within the stipulated time.<\/p>\n The notice, along with dated photographs, is uploaded to NHAI\u2019s Data Lake portal. The agency must submit a reply and photographs showing the corrective action taken, while NHAI field units monitor whether the problem has been resolved.<\/p>\n What happens if an agency fails to fix the problem?<\/strong><\/p>\n NHAI can impose penalties under the relevant contract and existing guidelines when deficiencies amount to a violation of service standards.<\/p>\n Repeated failures can lead to further action. If notices for unresolved deficiencies reach or exceed 10% of the total toll plazas operated by an agency, it can be declared a non-performer. The agency may then be barred from participating in NHAI bids for 15 days or until all pending deficiencies are rectified.<\/p>\n These rules cover publicly funded toll plazas and other toll plazas where NHAI appoints the user fee collection agencies.<\/p>\n Can hotels, restaurants and petrol pumps refuse toilet access?<\/strong><\/p>\n Access to toilets at highway facilities depends on the rules applicable to each establishment. Ministry guidelines provide for public access to toilet facilities at petrol pumps along National Highways. For hotels, dhabas and restaurants, the rules may depend on local regulations and the conditions attached to their permissions.<\/p>\n In a May 10, 2022, judgment in National Highway Projects vs. State of Bihar, the Patna High Court addressed the need for public sanitation facilities on highways.<\/p>\n It said authorities could consider making toilets and drinking water available to the public at highway dhabas and restaurants, with conditions included in permissions granted to such establishments. The judgment also discussed requirements for petrol pumps to provide toilet and drinking-water facilities accessible to the public around the clock.<\/p>\n However, the judgment does not establish a blanket nationwide rule requiring every hotel or restaurant to admit non-customers.<\/p>\n How can motorists report a dirty or unusable toilet?<\/strong><\/p>\n NHAI\u2019s Rajmargyatra<\/a> mobile app provides a way for highway users to report unclean toilets at toll plazas. Under its Clean Toilet Picture Challenge, users can submit clear, geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs of dirty facilities.<\/p>\n The scheme has offered an eligible vehicle registration number a \u20b91,000 FASTag recharge for a qualifying report.<\/a><\/p>\n