Summary:
If all goes according to plan, Rushikonda beach will get the certification in November 2019, officials said. Visakhapatnam: After a long delay, beautification and development works for getting ‘Blue Flag’ certification has finally begun at the Rushikonda beach in the city.The beach will be developed with a budget of Rs 7.3 crore to make the beach clean and equipped with amenities of international standards. Rushikonda beach will be first beach in Andhra Pradesh which is poised to get the popular ‘Blue Flag’ certification from the Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).Speaking to TOI, regional director of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, Visakhapatnam, J Radhakrishna Murthy said that Pune-based BVG Constructions is the contractor for development of the Rushikonda beach as well as the Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast of Odisha. The first batch of machinery for the work has arrived at the site a couple of weeks ago and beach development work has commenced.The Rushikonda beach is among the 13 beaches in the country that are being developed by the Society for Integrated Coastal Management (SICOM) in accordance with Blue Flag standards.Achieving the Blue Flag standards is not an easy task as the beach has to strictly comply with 33 environment and tourism related norms, which were established by the FEE in 1985.If Rushikonda beach gets Blue Flag certification, the beach is expected to attract a good number of foreign tourists. The beach is also the best place for surfing, water sports and speed boating.Once the works are completed and standards met, we can apply for Blue Flag certification from the FEE, after which they will visit the site and decide on certification..