Greater Chennai Corporation to float tender for upkeep of ramps at beaches on April 9

Chennai: Greater Chennai Corporation will soon privatize upkeep of the wooden pathways built to provide beach access for people with disabilities at Marina Beach and Elliot's Beach in Besant Nagar. A tender for a one-year maintenance contract, with a budget of 76 lakh, will be floated on April 9.

These wooden ramps, which have become a vital piece of inclusive public infrastructure by allowing wheelchair users and senior citizens access to the shoreline, are regularly used by hundreds of people, including at least 50 disabled individuals.

The Marina Beach ramp, situated opposite Vivekananda House, stretches 263 metres in length and is three metres wide. Reconstructed in June 2023 at a cost of 1.14 crore, it includes handrails for enhanced safety and accessibility. A similar pathway at Elliot's Beach, inaugurated on Feb 11 near Karl Schmidt Memorial, is 190 metres long and 2.8 metres wide. It was built at a cost of 1.16 crore.

"We hope the agencies will maintain the pathway in the long run to ensure proper support for users," said Subha Nandhini, a wheelchair user who frequently visits Besant Nagar beach. "It would be immensely helpful if they could also assist disabled visitors by providing wheelchairs and guiding them onto the ramp," she said.

Ramp users and disability rights organizations had repeatedly raised concerns about the maintenance of wooden pathways previously. R Sathish Kumar, a member of the disability rights alliance (DRA), pointed out that both ramps currently do not extend to the waterline, a result of incomplete work following past cyclone damage. "They are only 90% complete. Authorities must prioritize extending them fully to the water. We advocate for complete inclusivity, ensuring that while the public enjoys access, it is equally accessible to persons with disabilities," he added.

The DRA has also highlighted issues such as broken wooden planks, sand accumulation on the pathways, and the necessity for regular oiling to maintain the safety and usability of the wooden surfaces. They have urged the GCC to ensure daily sand clearance and prompt repairs. Despite the availability of parking at both Marina and Besant Nagar beaches, accessibility remains a significant challenge, particularly on weekends when large crowds often restrict the mobility of disabled visitors.