Chennai Marina Loop Road Eateries Construct Illegal Rooftop Sea-View Restaurants
Roadside food establishments along Chennai's iconic Marina Loop Road have dramatically escalated their encroachment activities. While these makeshift eateries have long occupied pedestrian pavements and even portions of the carriageway, they have now taken the audacious step of constructing crude rooftop extensions, which they boldly advertise as exclusive 'sea-view' restaurants.
Systematic Takeover of Public Space
The entire stretch, originally designed for pedestrians and beach enthusiasts, has been systematically commandeered by over one hundred temporary food outlets. These operations function from repurposed steel containers and basic tee structures topped with thatched or metal roofing materials. Investigations reveal that most operators are not traditional fishermen but rather commercial entrepreneurs who have progressively expanded their businesses onto public walkways.
In just the past week alone, establishments at a minimum of four distinct locations along the road have erected these rooftop additions. These structures present significant safety hazards, as they are precariously built upon single-brick house foundations. Crucially, none of these constructions have obtained the mandatory building approval from the Greater Chennai Corporation.
Operating Without Mandatory Licenses and Clearances
Adding to the regulatory violations, these shops operate completely without the essential Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licenses. Despite lacking these fundamental clearances, they continue their open-air operations, attracting substantial crowds during evening hours and throughout weekends.
The financial scale of these operations is considerable. Each shop reportedly generates approximately 50,000 rupees daily on weekdays, with weekend earnings surpassing 1 lakh rupees per day. Remarkably, this substantial revenue stream operates entirely outside the tax system, with no commercial taxes being paid to municipal authorities.
Questionable Sourcing and Official Responses
These establishments primarily specialize in seafood items including prawns, fish, and squid. Investigations indicate they source their products from Chintadripet market, rather than directly from fishing communities.
Official responses have been contradictory and delayed. GCC executive engineer for Teynampet zone D Ramamurthy made the questionable claim that only two shops had existed on the stretch for a year, with additional outlets appearing only recently. He stated, "We will ensure they are taken down."
Deputy mayor Mahesh Kumar announced that notices would be issued to these establishments shortly. He further declared, "We will also collect commercial tax from them for the business they have done for so long."
Political Pressure and Proposed Solutions
The civic body's inaction stands in stark contrast to its efforts to secure Blue Flag certification for sections of Marina beach. Officials privately acknowledge that sustained eviction drives have not been implemented due to political pressure.
The extensive encroachment forces numerous beach visitors to walk directly on the carriageway, creating pedestrian safety concerns. While food safety commissioner R Lalvena was unavailable for comment, Mylapore MLA D Velu revealed plans to construct a food court near Pattinapakkam ground.
Velu explained, "All these shops will be shifted to the new food court. We might propose the project this financial year, but only the next government will take it up." This proposed solution suggests a potential regularization rather than immediate enforcement of existing regulations.
The situation highlights significant governance challenges in balancing commercial enterprise, public space utilization, and regulatory enforcement along one of Chennai's most prominent coastal areas.
