HÀ NỘI – Some 200 public toilets will be built and become operational in the capital city before the 2017 Lunar New Year, as stated in a recent announcement by the Hà Nội People’s Committee.

The new toilets are part of a plan to build 1,000 public toilets in the city, which was approved back in August, as a response to mounting public complaints about woeful lack of such essential facilities, especially in tourist areas.

In addition, 10 specialised tank trucks, 50 automatic water filters and 200 stone benches will be made available for public use.

All concerned agencies and departments in the city will cooperate and provide guidance to investor Vinasing Media & Trading JSC to appropriately implement the project.

The city’s Department of Construction will collaborate with the investor to adjust and finalise the designs and 3D models of public toilets in each location for five piloting toilets which are scheduled to be completed this month, targeting 200 new toilets prior to the 2017 Lunar New Year.

New public toilets will be built mostly in urban districts, popular tourist spots, cultural centres and traffic hubs, as well as public entertainment venues and crowded areas.

The public toilets will feature designs that are in harmony with the surrounding landscape and allow proper air circulation; the materials for construction will be environment-friendly, and automatic faucets and flushing system will also be present.

During the piloting period, the responsibility to manage and maintain new toilets will fall on state-owned Urban Environment Company (URENCO).

Once the project is completed, all toilets will be operated by VinaSing. – VNS