Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam has recently lost its prestigious Blue Flag certification due to several maintenance issues. The Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awarded this certification in 2020, recognizing a 600-meter stretch of the beach for meeting high environmental and quality standards.

Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam has recently lost its prestigious Blue Flag certification due to several maintenance issues. The Denmark-based Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) awarded this certification in 2020, recognizing a 600-meter stretch of the beach for meeting high environmental and quality standards. 

However, recent reports highlighted concerns such as the presence of stray dogs, non-functional CCTV cameras, accumulated waste, deteriorating public toilets and changing rooms, and damaged walkways. These issues prompted complaints to the FEE, leading to the revocation of the Blue Flag status. Following this decision, tourism department officials removed the Blue Flag from the beach. 

This development serves as a significant setback for Visakhapatnam's tourism sector, emphasizing the need for enhanced maintenance and management to meet international standards.