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Marina ups beauty quotient

Monday, 21 December 2009 04:55 administrator
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Deccan Chronicle 21.12.2009

Marina ups beauty quotient

December 21st, 2009
By Our Correspondent

Dec. 20: If you love visiting the Marina beach for a morning walk or a late evening picnic just to enjoy the pleasant sea breeze, you can expect more hereafter. Chennai’s pride and the second longest beach in the world now boasts of picturesque viewing galleries, lawns, fountains and colourful lighting, with the city corporation unveiling its latest effort towards creating Singara Chennai on Sunday.

The civic body spent nearly Rs 26 crore to beautify the 3.10 km stretch of the beach between Napier Bridge and the Light House. On Sunday, chief minister M Karunanidhi officially invited the public to admire the Marina’s new look.

Among the various attractions of the face-lift are 14 viewing galleries, fountains, granite steps and a four-metre wide internal walkway lined with lush lawns and fancy fountains on either side.

The leaders’ statues have been fixed up with a high tech lighting system, making it a jazzy delight for families who lounge around there after dark. Apart from the frills, amenities like parking space, children’s play area and facilities for the physically challenged have also been taken care of. Apart from its trademark bajjis and sundal, the beach will offer the luxury of a food court.

The authorities have also banned cricket on the beach to avoid inconvenience to walkers and visitors. A blanket ban on the use of plastics has been levied, and the civic body has promised regular garbage clearance. With Chennaiites being a litter happy sort, it remains to be seen if the Marina manages to retain for long its newfound sheen.

 

Beautified Marina to become more tourist-friendly

Monday, 21 December 2009 02:22 administrator
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The Hindu 21.12.2009

Beautified Marina to become more tourist-friendly

Staff Reporter

— Photo: K.V.Srinivasan

NEW LOOK: The new fountain near Gandhi Statue on the Marina as part of the beach beautification project, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi on Sunday.

CHENNAI: The renovated Marina Beach was formally declared open by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Sunday with the Chennai Corporation completing the Rs.25.92-crore beautification project.

“Apart from the beautification project, the Corporation has started initiatives to make the beach more tourist- friendly,” said Chennai Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni.

“Five reverse osmosis plants capable of providing 30,000 litres of drinking water an hour free of cost to visitors will be ready shortly,” he said.

The Corporation expects that the facilities will help more than 50,000 visitors to the beach a day, according to an official.

The proposal for beautification was made by Mr. Karunanidhi in the budget speech of 2007-2008.

The master plan was prepared in June 2007 and the work started in February 2008. The needs of various users and stakeholders were taken into consideration and architectural elements, such as plazas, gazeboes and pergolas, have been incorporated without affecting the nature and the beach environment, said Mr.Lakhoni.

The whole length of the beach from Triumph of Labour Statue to Light House has been divided into 14 harmonious landscaped galleries dotting its span of 3.1 km. A total of 428 octagonal poles with seagull-shaped light fittings and additional high-mast lamps have been erected.

New bus shelters

Ten modern stainless steel bus shelters have been erected near the beach.

Mr.Karunanidhi planted saplings as part of the inauguration of the beautified beach.

Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin and Mayor M.Subramanian participated.

Last Updated on Monday, 21 December 2009 02:25
 

Elliot’s Beach in a ‘Glass’ of its own

Friday, 18 December 2009 10:29 administrator
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The New Indian Express 18.12.2009

Elliot’s Beach in a ‘Glass’ of its own

Express News Service


CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation may have taken credit for spending only Rs. 2.43 crores in the beautification of the Besant Nagar beach but a scientific survey conducted by “Reclaim our Beaches Campaign”, a collective of environmental activists, has brought out startling facts that prove that the Corporation, obsessed with beautification, has actually lost sight of other, important, civic issues.

The survey says that the 800- metre long Besant Nagar beach has only two trashcans placed at either end, with the result that most of the trash litters the sands. Further, it alleges, that at least 1,735 pieces of broken glass were found strewn on the sands apart from 8500 plastic cups, 8000 pieces of silver foil and other nondescript items, taking the tally to 20,000 objects.

Siddharth Hande, a member of the campaign, says, “ Our survey shows Elliot’s Beach should be renamed as ‘Broken Glass Beach’. The trash makes it extremely unsafe for people to walk. It is high time we as responsible citizens woke up and start creating awareness and worked towards bringing all the stakeholders together to find solutions.” The group is trying to campaign at all levels. Sharadha Shankar, another member, said, “ We are planning to make this campaign all-inclusive.

We need everybody’s support to bring about a change. We are on talks with the hawkers, the people who use the beach, and also, after December, we plan to focus on school children.” As a fundraiser, the band Junkyard Groove is all set to groove for the cause on December 20 evening at ‘Space’ at No.1, Elliot’s Road. They plan to have a beach cleaning drive on January 30 and 31. For more details, readers can contact: 9600040682.

Last Updated on Friday, 18 December 2009 10:36
 
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