An eatery is being run from the rear end of a motorable toilet for women operated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the ‘Fashion Street’ stretch of Mahatma Gandhi Road near Azad Maidan in Fort. The civic body had established such Mahilasathi Swacchatagruha buses primarily to provide women with basic restroom facilities, but this ‘café’ is believed to have been functioning for at least a year.

Asked whether the establishment had the necessary approvals, a shopkeeper referred us to the “boss of the shop”, Geeta Mehar. The latter stated, “I look after the shop part-time, and I also work in the office of the local corporator Makarand Narwekar. A few police personnel have questioned me about the legitimacy of my shop, but I told them what I am telling you — I have been approved by Makarand sir to manage this place. Recently, I received a letter from him confirming this.”