Chennai: A toilet complex used by about 1,200 families in the Mint neighbourhood of North Chennai was razed by Greater Chennai Corporationsix months ago.As there is no other public toilet in the vicinity, women, children and the elderly are forced to walk about a kilometre to toilets near the Bharathi Women’s Arts College.It is impractical and unsafe, complain residents. Some people travel by autorickshaw to access the distant facility. A pregnant woman, Santha Kumari, said, “It is extremely difficult for me, especially at night. I can’t travel like this while carrying.”The neighbourhood is a multimodal transport hub with more than 10,000 commuters using the Washermenpet and Mannadi metro stations and MTC buses . The area also has a lot of shops and houses the Stanley Government Hospital. But there are no public toilets now.When locals approached ward 56 councillor V Parimalam for a remedy, he apparently told them to “show the place first” where a new toilet could be constructed. When TOI approached him for comment, he declined to respond.On May 5, Democratic Youth Federation of India organized a signature campaign to demand a public toilet or at least a mobile unit. More than 100 residents joined the campaign.Greater Chennai Corporation privatized toilet maintenance in Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones a year ago at a cost of 430 crore. Yet, in this busy junction, no major improvements have been made. A functional toilet is available only inside the Mannadi metro station. The existing toilet was apparently demolished to make way for a new Urban Habitat Development Board building.