Southern stretch of Marina to get facelift

Project for 2.8-km stretch will include walkways, bicycle tracks; to cost Rs. 40 crore

An artist’s representation of what Marina Beach will look like after its makeover.

The southern part of Marina Beach is all set to get a makeover. The Chennai Corporation has prepared a detailed project report for the development of walkways, benches, a gallery, bicycle tracks, concrete roads, service trenches, rainwater trenches and streetlight fittings at an estimated cost of Rs. 40 crore for the 2.8 km stretch from Lighthouse to Foreshore Estate.

Mayor Saidai Duraisamy on Tuesday inspected the beach as part of the commissioning of a modern fish market on the stretch to provide alternative accommodation to vendors of the existing market on Marina Loop Road.

“The intended Loop Road connecting the southern end of Marina and Foreshore Estate will pass all along the Santhome coast of Chennai. The existing 20-metre-wide road is now being used as an alternative route to Santhome High Road during rush hour. It is proposed to turn this stretch into a well laid-out link road with features and amenities that can match world standards,” said the consultant for the project.

After the makeover, the four-lane concrete road will serve as an alternative to the congested Santhome High Road with additional features that are intended to benefit the fishing colonies in the area. A 2.4-metre-wide bicycle track, a 3.3-metre-wide walkway and a 2.5-metre-wide gallery will be developed on the eastern side of the road.

The western side of the road will have a fish market with cold storage facilities as well as a walkway.

The concrete road will be barricaded on both sides with stainless steel pillared railings.

Heritage pillars

The Corporation will also develop heritage pillars on the western side of Kamarajar Salai opposite the beach. The civic body has prepared a detailed project report for uniformly-designed heritage pillars made of granite and iron on the stretch from All India Radio to Swami Sivananda Salai.

More than 300 heritage pillars, 1.2 metres tall, will dot Kamarajar Salai as part of the project, replacing existing walls of various institutions to improve aesthetics around the beach.