The Shanghumugham beach wave-proof gallery in Thiruvananthapuram is expected to open to the public by the end of November, with officials saying the remaining construction work on the Rs 14-crore coastal protection project could be completed within a month.
Officials from the irrigation department said a major portion of the gallery has been completed and that work resumed recently after interruptions. Drainage arrangements and tile-laying remain to be finished before visitors can use the facility.
The gallery is a central component of the beach restoration and coastal protection project being implemented by the major irrigation department. The project covers an approximately 355-metre stretch and includes structures designed to withstand strong waves, along with stone pitching, improved pedestrian access and ramps.
According to the department, the ramps are intended to support the movement of fishermen and devotees taking part in the traditional Arattu procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The project has also been shaped by objections over construction and access arrangements near the historic Arattu Mandapam.
The facility had initially been expected to be completed before Onam. Construction was disrupted in June and July after objections were raised over proposed modifications near the mandapam. BJP district leaders had argued that the structure and access arrangements could obstruct the traditional route used for the procession. Work was temporarily suspended, and restarting it took additional time.
The department is now hoping to complete the remaining work without further interruptions. Officials said the absence of strong sea incursions in recent days had created more favourable conditions for construction, although the gallery cannot be opened until the pending drainage and finishing works are completed.
Shanghumugham beach has remained largely inaccessible during the restoration work. The prolonged closure has affected visitors as well as businesses dependent on beach tourism, while repeated sea erosion has damaged the beachfront. The restoration project is therefore intended to address both public access and protection of the coastal edge.
The proposed reopening will restore access to part of one of Thiruvananthapuram’s best-known recreational spaces, but the immediate milestone remains the completion of drainage, tile-laying and related works. The irrigation department has indicated that these tasks are expected to be finished within a month, allowing the gallery to open by the end of November.
