Unicaus NEWS
On Sunday, as many as 28 shops were removed from the Marina beach from the Blue Flag beach area. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The civic body intensified the drive to remove shops in the stretch identified for the Blue Flag beach certification, as the second phase is expected to be launched this month.
GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran on Sunday posted a photo of the beach beautification work on the social media platform X and said: “Blue Flag Area Phase 2 is coming up at the Marina. Will be more than 50 acres with no vending zone.”
On Sunday, as many as 28 shops were removed from the Marina beach from the Blue Flag beach area. The first phase of the Blue Flag beach has already been opened for the visitors at the Marina beach near the swimming pool and the certification is expected shortly. Work on receiving Blue Flag certification is under way and various civic agencies are working to keep the beach sands clean and reducing pollution of sea water for certification.
As the Cooum and the Adyar rivers continue to be heavily polluted with sewage discharge and industrial waste, owing to a delay in setting up sewage treatment plants, the Marina beach and other city beaches near the river mouth have been found to be polluted.
According to experts, the sea water of the Marina beach has been polluted. The State government has not allocated funds to set up adequate number of sewage treatment plants to clean the city rivers that flow into the sea. The Blue Flag certification of the Marina beach has been delayed owing to polluted sea water of the Marina beach, civic officials said.
Residents shared on social media about the dirty stretches of beaches in the city, demanding measures to improve aesthetics in the city beaches. A resident posted on X: “Please restrict shops on Besant Nagar too.” Another resident posted: “We need a peaceful beach, not crowded food spots. Please remove in Bessy beach too.” Pointing to the removal of shops in Marina beach on Sunday, another post read: “Good. These vendors and makeshift shops make it ugly and dirty. Also improve aesthetics in general. Currently, it is just ugly.”
GCC has completed work on installation of children’s play equipment in the second phase of the Blue Flag area on the Marina beach. The civic body will resume work on umbrellas and beach recliners after Pongal. GCC on Sunday also announced that the officials will start collecting a fine of ₹5000 from those who dump garbage on the beach.
Published – January 12, 2026 05:30 am IST
