Greater Chennai Corporation plans solar-powered ropeway, creative garbage bins for Marina Beach

Greater Chennai Corporation plans solar-powered ropeway at Marina Beach for panoramic views, addressing waste management with creative garbage bins.

ChennaiThe Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has announced plans to develop a solar-powered ropeway at the Marina Beach to provide ‘panoramic views of the coastline’, which stretches approximately 13 km along the Bay of Bengal.

Ward 104 (Anna Nagar West) Councillor T.V. Shemmozhi, who proposed the project, stated that it aims to attract foreign tourists to the beach and is part of sustainable initiatives that will operate on solar power. The councillor also mentioned that the cost estimation for the project has not yet been finalised.

“Each ‘vehicle’ will accommodate at least four passengers, who will enjoy a 20-minute trip,” he added. A tender was floated to select a consultancy firm for feasibility studies and project planning. The estimated cost for consultancy services is ₹25 lakh, the document stated. According to tender documents, the selection will follow a least-cost-based evaluation system.

Increase in tourism also implies increase in garbage disposal. So, in parallel, the GCC plans to address waste management concerns by installing additional dustbins across Marina Beach to tackle the increased waste anticipated from higher tourist footfall once the ropeway is operational.

Suresh Viswanathan, 51, a resident of Triplicane who jogs at the beach side regularly, said people visiting must be educated on proper waste disposal and stricter fine system must be in place. “There needs to be more tourism activity at this beach like snorkelling, boating, parasailing etc. These can be outsourced to private agencies by the government, but this will improve the beach’s persona to global standards. More lifeguards can be deployed to prevent any mishaps,” he added.

The Corporation plans to strategically place more dustbins to ensure effective garbage collection and maintain the cleanliness of the beach, according to a tender floated under ward 120 of Teynampet Zone (IX). The Corporation also plans to install garbage bins at Marina Beach featuring creative designs, including boat, fish, bottle, and bullock cart shapes, as per the document.