Public toilets are to be built at appropriate exits on lines 3, 4 and 5 of the Guangzhou Metro, a Guangzhou newspaper reported Tuesday.

But after considering costs, toilets will not be built for line 1 and 2, which are already operating.

Metro toilets would be located at ground level for security reasons, as well as hygiene considerations, Guangzhou Metro sources said.

The Guangzhou Metro Property Management Company will be responsible for maintaining the toilets.

Passengers would be allowed to use staff toilets on lines 1 and 2, sources said.

Residents were generally satisfied with the service on lines 1 and 2 except for the lack of toilets. However, metro toilets have long been a controversial topic.

Guangzhou Metro gave up the idea of building toilets after reviewing problems in New York City and Shanghai.

More than 200 toilets serving the New York Metro ended up becoming hotspots for crime. Only about 60 are still open. Shanghai Metro is notorious for the bad smell coming from its underground toilets.

(Shenzhen Daily June 23, 2004)