The Energy Ministry has agreed to provide free water and electricity for 250 public restrooms across the country to solve the problem of restroom shortage.
The ministry made the announcement following negotiations with Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, ISNA reported.
ICHHTO had prepared a list of unfinished restrooms—whose construction had begun during the last government’s tenure (2009-13)—and presented it to the Energy Ministry.
The facilities were part of the previous administration’s scheme to built 1,000 public restrooms, of which fewer than 100 had become operational. Others were either not built at all or were abandoned due to a variety of reasons, from a lack of proper infrastructure to the wrong location.
Many of the facilities were built in places where it would be too costly to provide tap water and electricity.
“The agreement is of great importance, given the ministry’s initial resistance to the organization’s proposal,” said Jalal Tajik, director of special zones and tourism infrastructure at ICHHTO’s Investment Office.
“ICHHTO, which is fully aware of the sorry state of roadside public restrooms, is seriously pursuing the implementation of the agreement.”
Apart from the 250 projects, whose construction will soon resume, ICHHTO is cooperating with Iran Road Maintenance & Transportation Organization and Iran’s Land Affairs Organization to attract investment to develop roadside facilities.
About 207 locations have been designated by IRMTO for the construction of public lavatories and ILAO has agreed to offer land to private investors free of charge.
However, only a few investors have so far showed interest in financing the projects.
“The present offers of investment can barely cover 20 locations,” said Tajik.
