Woman says ‘commuters stole’ flush tanks from newly opened Delhi-Dehradun Expressway - Video

A woman has bluntly criticised the civic sense of commuters travelling on the recently inaugurated 213-km, six-lane Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, saying, “Indians don't deserve facilities.”

The woman shared a detailed video on Instagram from the expressway and claimed that it had not even been a month since the expressway was inaugurated, yet “the flush tank remains damaged, people took it away,” she said in frustration.

She further stated that she had travelled on the route just two weeks after its inauguration and had been impressed by the cleanliness of both the road and the washrooms. However, she claimed the situation had now changed completely.

Calling the current condition “pathetic”, she slammed the lack of civic sense among the public. She said the government had left no stone unturned in providing high-tech washrooms, with both “western and Indian toilets” available. She also mentioned that, during her earlier visit, bottles filled with handwash had been placed inside the facilities.

She now alleged that the toilet seats were broken and even the flush tanks had been stolen, blaming commuters for the damage. However, Mint couldn't independently verify the authenticity of these claims.

“How will we move forward? Our mindset is to break all the free facilities. It means the government won't do anything for us. If the government wants to invest money, we won't be able to afford the facilities,” she asked.

The video was shared with the caption: “Indians don’t deserve facilities because we don’t use them, we abuse them. We can’t always blame the government, we need to be responsible citizens before we ask for a responsible government,” the post read.

The post received numerous reactions on social media, with several users criticising the public’s lack of civic sense.

“We don’t deserve good things, and I don’t blame any government at all. We are the problem,” another person added. “Paid toilets is the answer with security and privatisation,” wrote another internet user.

“Paid washrooms + with attendant on duty is the only answer ngl,” another person commented. “Basic civic sense should start in school,” wrote another user. “Paid public toilets and utilities only,” added another.

The corridor includes six lanes, 14 wayside amenities, multiple bridges, interchanges and rail overbridges. With a speed limit of 100 kmph and a six-lane access-controlled design, the project is estimated to have cost around ₹12,000–13,000 crore. The expressway begins near Akshardham in Delhi and stretches all the way to Dehradun.

Featuring a wildlife-friendly design, the project includes a 12-km elevated corridor, considered one of the longest in Asia. Another notable feature of the economic corridor is the elephant underpasses, which allow animals to cross the busy route safely while minimising ecological impact.