Thiruvananthapuram: Veli beach in the capital is set for a major makeover, with the district administration initiating steps to secure the coveted international Blue Flag certification — a mark recognising beaches that meet exacting standards on environmental protection, safety, water quality, accessibility and visitor amenities.A review meeting chaired by district collector Anu Kumari was held to chart a roadmap for taking Veli beach towards Blue Flag certification. Assistant collector Vishnoi Dinesh Hapuram, Blue Flag national operator Dr Shreeji Kurup, District Tourism Promotion Council secretary Satheesh Miranda, KITTS coordinator Dr Nikhil Das, and officials of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the tourism department attended.The administration hopes to develop Veli as India’s 19th and Kerala’s third Blue Flag beach. Blue Flag is an internationally recognised eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), based on compliance with 33 mandatory criteria covering environmental education and information, bathing-water quality, environmental management, safety and services.A senior district administration official said the focus would be on drawing up a clear, time-bound action plan to address the gaps at Veli before taking the certification process forward. “Veli already has considerable tourism infrastructure, but achieving Blue Flag status requires meeting a much higher set of environmental, safety, accessibility and management standards. The administration will coordinate with all concerned departments and agencies to systematically address the shortcomings,” the official said.The push comes as Veli is being positioned as a broader tourism hub. The Veli Tourist Village, where Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea, is one of the district’s prominent attractions, offering boating, gardens, a children’s park and other recreational facilities. It lies around 12km from the city and 3 km from Thiruvananthapuram airport, according to the district tourism portal.The state has already sanctioned funds for tourism infrastructure at Veli. A 2025 govt order provided plan funding to Kerala Tourism Infrastructure Ltd for reformulating tourism projects and developing infrastructure, including the Art Cafe and Urban Wetland Nature Park.Certification, however, cannot be secured through beautification alone. Beaches must demonstrate sustained compliance with water-quality standards, effective waste and sewage management, environmental conservation, safety arrangements, accessibility for persons with disabilities, adequate sanitation and changing facilities, visitor information systems and environmental education programmes.
