Revitalised Blue Flag beach at Marina to be launched in second week of July-OxBig News Network

Chennai Corporation will launch in two weeks the revitalised Blue Flag beach, with native coastal vegetation, recreation space, and eco-friendly infrastructure on a 30-acre space near the Marina Beach swimming pool.

Environment and Forest officials visited the beach on Saturday, and suggested reviving native coastal vegetation, which has been degraded, to revitalise the beach and prevent pollution.

After the launch of the project on the Marina in the second week of July, the Greater Chennai Corporation will install Blue Flag beach infrastructure – with recreation space and eco-friendly facilities– on another 30-acre area on the Marina opposite the Public Works Department office, and on Uthandi, Kottivakkam and Palavakkam beaches.

“The work order for the Blue Flag beach was issued on December 10, 2024. We have started planting native species, including coconut trees. Forest officials have advised us to study the native species on beaches near Chennai and its neighbouring districts before finalising the trees for the project. A team will carry out the study this week. They will also visit Teerthavari beach in Marakkanam to study native vegetation,” said an official.

Recliners installed

The GCC has already installed40 bamboo recliners, four watchtowers, 20 cameras for surveillance, open gym equipment, children play equipment, and 24 pairs of bamboo dustbins. Meanwhile, work on creating a bamboo arch is under way.

The beach will also have space for meditation (measuring 30ftx30ft) and a reading space (measuring 16ftx16ft), in addition to toilets.

The Corporation is planning to take efforts to reverse pollution of the beach sands caused by sewage pollution in the city, officials said.