Basin bridge in Chennai turns public urinal

CHENNAI: The walls of Basin Bridge, painted just three months ago under the Singara Chennai 2.0 initiative, have turned into a public urinal. The area stinks and the pavements are wet with urine. Locals say it's because there are no public toilets anywhere close.

"I try to warn people who urinate on the stretch," said a traffic inspector. But it doesn't seem to have any effect. The worst affected are pedestrians who have to walk past the stretch, said Govindan of Pulianthope who often passes by on foot.

Recently, the corporation commissioner had instructed officials to fine those who piss on the streets 50. But officials are passing the buck.

At the zone 5 office (Royapuram) located at the entry point of the bridge, officials said the bridge falls under the jurisdiction of zone six Thiru Vi Ka Nagar.

The bridge belongs to the highways department but sanitary maintenance is done by the city corporation.