The ambassadors and civil engineering students who are involved in the Swachh Bharat mission are constructing 50 toilets in three days at Ambedkar Nagar as part of their preparations for the Guinness record attempt Construct-a-thon, to build 2500 household toilets in 72 hours.

The corporation had previously planned to attempt a world record by involving the civil engineering students and its Swachh Bharat ambassadors. A new website was also opened to receive applications from people who require household latrines. Once the applications were received, the officials started mapping the areas and construction work of demo toilets were started in Ambedkar Nagar on Thursday.

According Corporation Commissioner K.Vijayakarthikeyan, as a demo project, 50 toilets are being constructed in the area. The construction will help the organisers identify gaps that need to be filled and the corrections that are to be rectified while attempting the record.

He further added that using this project, more such projects would also emerge to help people in need.

Appreciating the efforts of the students, Commissioner also said that it is encouraging to see them involve in practical projects which will help them in their careers as civil engineers.

“This would give practical knowledge of the student instead of making them bookish. This is a positive sign for the city in general,” he said.

Later Vijayakarthikeyan also interacted with the students and ambassadors after visiting the spot.

S. Bharath Kumar of Kathir Engineering College, who was involved in the construction project, said that the students were largely benefitted by the masonry work and learned the nuances of supervising.

“We are very happy with the hands-on training,” he said.

Poovammal, one of the beneficiaries of the household toilets, said that they have been suffering for more than ten years without proper toilets adding that they need not worry about hygiene issues anymore.

“Now that we have a toilet, our children too will be hygienic and healthy. It is a good sign of development for our society,” she said.