New beach park soon in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Vizagites and tourists to the city will soon drink in the breathtaking view of the sea, but at an idyllic location namely Lawson’s Bay Beach.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is in its last weeks of preparations to officially inaugurate the Lawson's Bay Beach. A wide two-lane road cuts through to the beach from China Waltair besides another entrance from Lawson’s Bay Colony besides Kamat Hotel.

Giving a feeling of seclusion, the entrance plaza unfolds into the beautifully landscaped garden, well-maintained walking tracks, interaction space, children play area and equipment and seating arrangements. Pending some engineering works, the GVMC officials are planning to inaugurate it within the next few weeks.

The beach development works were taken up with an estimated cost of '13 crore in about 5.5 acre land near Lawson's Bay Colony about four years ago.
Assistant Director of Horticulture (ADH), GVMC, and M. Damodar, informed that horticulture works has already been completed. “We are expecting the official inauguration of the park by the next month. As both the RK Beach and Rushikonda Beach are buzzing with hectic activity, this beach will serve as an alternate recreational space for tourists,” he added.

In his recent visit to this beach, GVMC Commissioner Pravin Kumar directed the officials to set up beach shelters and umbrellas in the park to register more footfalls.

When this correspondent visited the park on Thursday, the workers were seen doing gardening works. Despite the well-maintained park area, still the GVMC has to take up the beach levelling work.

The large drain flowing adjacent to the beach area is leaving behind a foul stench and the rampant open defecation in the vicinity is some of the issues GVMC that need to be addressed.

The GVMC had recently constructed two community toilets in the area and deployed guards at the beach. But some locals prefer to relieve themselves in the beach area. It was earlier planned to divert the drain water to the treatment plant at Appu Ghar.

But it is now learnt that the GVMC has been planning to construct a mini STP to recycle the drain water before releasing it into the sea.