It has been pointed out to authorities concerned that while the municipal authorities are willing to come up with facilities for collection of municipal solid waste in such areas and installing public or community toilets for the use of unauthorised settlers, permission from the railway authorities is not forthcoming.
The Centre has recently written to chief secretaries of all states and administrators of Union Territories to "ask all urban local bodies or local authorities to chalk out an action plan in consultation with the railway authorities" so the areas owned by the public sector transporter and entire city or town can be declared open defecation free, a senior official in Cabinet Secretariat said.