Marina beach to get watchtowers, spotlights to make it safer

CHENNAI: Don’t be surprised if you are on the spotlight at Marina Beach anytime, soon. The Greater Chennai corporation along with the coastal security group is all set to set up high mast street lights along with lights that will travel long distance up to the waves. This is mainly to ensure reduction in crime at the shoreline at night, said corporation engineer.

The marina redevelopment plan doesn’t end here. The city corporation, city police and the coastal security group will also set up 23 high mast street lights. “We are replacing the present sodium vapour lamps with LED street lights. On Saturday alone, four such high mast lights were set up,” said corporation commissioner, D Karthikeyan.

K Vanniaperumal, additional director general of police, coastal security group told TOI that Rs 15 crore will be allotted from the Swadesh Darshan project that was announced by the Tourism department. The city corporation had conducted the survey and submitted the proposal. The funds will be managed by the corporation and the CSG will implement the project. “75 CCTV cameras, 23 high mast street lights and other safety equipment to provide safety to beach visitors will be provided,” said Vanniaperumal.

To ensure cleanliness of the beach, the city corporation’s revenue department is drawing a plan to set up dustbins at various locations.

Nearly 2200 vendors on Marina beach are being regulated with ID cards, licenses and separate locatiosn for setting up shops. Two parallal rows along the walkway on the beach that is 2.8km long has been created. The shops cannot dot the sand area anymore.

“The vendors have cooperated and we will ensure that this is monitored,” said A K Viswanathan, city police commissioner. D Karthikeyan and A K Viswanathan inspected the beach on Saturday.