Shangumughom Beach to get a facelift ahead of Navy Day celebrations

The Shangumugham Beach here is set to get a major facelift with this year’s Navy Day celebrations reportedly planned in Thiruvananthapuram.

The State government has issued orders for carrying out emergency works at the Shangumugham beach, the venue of the event, with reports suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be the chief guest at the December 4 event.

The Water Resources Department has cleared a ₹14 crore plan for ‘Emergency retrofitting and temporary protection works to Shangumugham Beach - Emergency Work,’ observing that Mr. Modi is expected to visit Shangumugham. The works cover beautification of the beach and “temporary protection” works based on a proposal submitted by the Superintending Engineer (South Circle) of the Irrigation Department.

The Irrigation Department had been directed to submit a proposal at a review meeting convened by the Chief Secretary in July this year.

Navy Day is annually celebrated on December 4, commemorating Operation Trident, the Naval attack on Karachi harbour during the Indo-Pak War in 1971. An operational demonstration is a highlight of the event, showcasing the Indian Navy’s rich maritime history and prowess.

That said, official announcements about the 2025 Navy Day celebrations and Mr. Modi’s visit are awaited.

This will be only the third occasion when the Navy Day is celebrated outside a major naval station. The first occasion was in 2023, when the celebrations were held at the Tarkarli beach in Sindhudurg taluk, Maharashtra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest on the occasion. The second occasion was in 2024, when the Blue Flag Beach in Puri, Odisha, hosted the event. President Droupadi Murmu was the chief guest then.