The Madras High Court has ordered the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to allow no more than 300 shops along the popular Marina Beach, significantly scaling down from the previous plan that proposed over 1,000 stalls.During Thursday’s hearing, the court bench of Justices R. Suresh Kumar and A.D. Jagadish Chandira reviewed the corporation’s revised vending plan for the beach, noting that the sprawling number of shops had cluttered the public space and detracted from its natural beauty.
Under the new directive, the 300 permitted outlets will be restricted to three categories — eatables, toys and related goods, and fancy items or souvenirs — with approximately 100 shops allotted for each category. However, the court allowed flexibility within these limits based on genuine demand and space constraints.
To ensure transparency, the High Court also mandated that allotments should be made through a lottery system supervised by a retired High Court judge, a move aimed at preventing irregularities and disputes in the selection process.
The judges further encouraged the expansion of the Blue Flag areas — zones of environmental excellence recognised internationally — suggesting the inclusion of additional stretches near the Parthasarathi Temple to enhance Marina Beach’s recreational appeal free from commercial activity.
The GCC has been asked to file the updated vending plan reflecting the reduced number of shops ahead of the next hearing scheduled later this month.