Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh inspecting the Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Minister for Tourism Kandula Durgesh inspected the Rushikonda Blue Flag Beach on Thursday.
Mr. Durgesh said that greater coordination between officials and the people’s representatives was being ensured to ensure proper upkeep of the facilities created at the Blue Flag Beach.
The Blue Flag tag was temporarily withdrawn by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education (FEE) after it received complaints related to poor maintenance of amenities at Rushikonda. However, the tag has been restored now, the Minister said.
He assured the vendors managing stalls on the beach and the Life Guards posted there of providing a solution to the issues raised by them.
He announced that apart from improving standards at the Blue Flag beach, measures would be taken for further beautification to improve the tourist footfall.
Double-decker bus services on the Beach Road would be a major tourist attraction, Mr. Durgesh said.
Terming the Blue Flag certification for Rushikonda Beach as a major achievement, the Minister said it would attract tourists from across the globe.
With the facilities including washrooms, changing rooms and grey water treatment, the Blue Flad beach will attarct International tourists, he said.
The Minister called upon the officials and visitors to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and proper upkeep of the facilities to ensure that the Blue Flag certificate was not withdrawn.
“The Tourism Department will undertake beautification of the beach at a cost of ₹24 lakh,“ Mr. Durgesh said.
He also spoke about the measures initiated for the revival of the cruise liner operation. A decision has been taken to operate the cruise liner four times till September this year. Measures will be taken to operate it through out the year,” Mr. Durgesh added.
Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad and Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Commissioner Ketan Garg accompanied the Tourism Minister during the inspection.
Published – July 04, 2025 08:53 am IST
