Guangzhou Metro Corporation has abandoned the idea of installing toilets in stations due to security and technical reasons.

The company also hasn't decided on whether to install a toilet at the exit of the transfer station of the Metro Line 3, which will be put into operation at the end of the year.

The company was required by the government to put in toilets after receiving complaints from the public about the lack of toilets on Lines 1 and 2.

An investigation by the company revealed that in addition to the cost of at least 10,000 yuan (US$1,250) per square meter, there were also sewage and ventilation problems associated with building toilets in a subway station.

“The bad smell will deteriorate the air quality of underground trains if its ventilation is not well solved, no need to say the hidden threats in security,” an official of the Metro company was quoted by the Southern Metropolis Daily on Thursday.

“The Metro lines were installed with cameras, but toilets, which are not appropriate for cameras, could be security blind spots for terrorist attacks.”

Many foreign subways had installed underground toilets, but they ended up as hot spots for crimes, according to the newspaper report.

The official said the company was looking into setting up toilets at the conjunctions of Metro stations and bus stops.

(Shenzhen Daily October 24, 2005)