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.

Source: The Hindu