Decks have been cleared for the implementation of the ₹100-crore Chennai Shoreline Re-nourishment and Revitalisation Project, covering the 30-km stretch between the Marina and Kovalam, with the Tamil Nadu government agreeing to establish a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the project.
The project has been conceived for a number of reasons. Despite the city having a natural and long shoreline, the access to the coastline is not continuous but fragmented in stretches. The issue of conservation from the climate perspective remains unaddressed. Other than the Marina and Elliot’s (Besant Nagar) beaches, there are approximately 20 other disconnected shorefronts which are underutilised. A stretch of 3 km along the coast faces low erosion and approximately a 7-km stretch faces low accretion.
