In India, we usually see old buses being scrapped. In Bengaluru, one scrap bus was given a second life – as a safe toilet for women.
This is the story of Sthree Toilet at the Majestic bus terminal of KSRTC, highlighted in PIB’s Dignity by Design report on 2nd Oct 2026.
The Problem:
Majestic bus terminal is one of the busiest places in Bengaluru. Thousands of women travel through it every day – many with young children.
Finding a clean, private, safe toilet there was a daily struggle. Regular public toilets are often unclean, unsafe, and not designed for mothers with babies.
The Solution: A Bus Becomes a Toilet
Karnataka took an old scrap KSRTC bus and converted it into an exclusive women’s toilet.
It’s not just a toilet. It’s designed keeping women in mind.
Inside the Sthree Toilet:
- 5 commodes: 3 Indian-style + 2 Western-style – so women have a choice
- Menstrual hygiene support: A sanitary napkin vending machine AND an incinerator to safely dispose of sanitary waste
- For mothers: A dedicated private space where mothers can feed their babies and change diapers – this is the most important feature. You rarely see this in public toilets in India.
- Safety & Sustainability: Sensor lights that run on solar power generated by the facility itself. So it’s bright at night, safe, and eco-friendly.
- Clean waste system: Waste drains directly into the nearest sewage chamber at the bus station – so it’s hygienic and well-maintained.
Why This Matters:
The PIB report says this toilet has proved especially helpful for mothers travelling with young children.
Think about it – a mother travelling alone from Majestic with a baby in her lap. She needs to use the toilet, feed the baby, change a diaper, and also manage menstrual hygiene. Where would she go?
Now she has a dedicated, safe, clean space made from a bus that would otherwise have been waste.
This is what Swachh Bharat Mission’s Toilets 2.0 (launched in 2022) is about – making Community and Public Toilets safe, clean and inviting for everyone. From ODF to ODF+ and ODF++.
From basic access to dignity.
Bengaluru just showed how to do it – Reduce, Reuse, and give Respect.
Source: PIB Delhi – “Dignity by Design: Innovation Reshapes India’s Public Toilets” – The Sthree Toilet section – 02 OCT 2026
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