The high-density polyethylene ramp at Marina’s Blue Flag Beach.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is set to replace the existing accessible wooden ramp on Marina Beach with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) ramp.
The installation is expected to begin after the work order is issued later this month, officials said.
The wooden ramp, installed in 2022 to provide beach access for persons with disabilities, was designed using eco-friendly materials in compliance with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines.
At that time, the GCC had said the structure could be easily repaired after extreme weather events.
According to GCC officials, the wooden ramp required periodic repairs after portions were damaged.
However, they later found that the Brazilian timber pillars embedded beneath the sand to support the wooden ramp had deteriorated and began to rot due to prolonged exposure. “Nails or any other supporting mechanism was not possible because of the rotting. Hence, an HDPE ramp, similar to the one planned on the Blue Flag portion of Marina Beach, will be installed here,” an official said.
The move has however drawn criticism on social media, particularly from persons with disabilities, who have said the proposed HDPE design may not be as smooth or accessible as the earlier wooden ramp with railings.
Published – July 13, 2026 05:15 am IST
