Sunday 12 August 2018

RO RO Ferry

The people of the country may recall the inauguration of the RORO ferry by the PM Mr.Modi at Ghogha, Gujarat just before the State election last year. The RORO ferry service connecting my home town Bhavnagar to Surat was launched with a lot of fanfare by the PM himself, calling it the first of its kind. Ever since, I have been wanting to visit the place and I finally did so today.


RORO Ferry Terminal at Ghogha. Photo Nandini Oza


To tell the truth, I was not at all surprised to find that the RORO service has been suspended for the time being as it is not able to sail through the currents of the gulf during the monsoon months. The ferry may start after the 15th of September I was told. The terminal had a deserted look. It also had a run down look with some of the billboards broken in less than a year of the inauguration.


Rather run down look of the new terminal. Photo Nandini Oza


But what was disturbing was that the town of Ghogha where the much touted ferry terminal is located had  an absolutely underdeveloped look with dusty lanes full of potholes. Garbage dumps were all around and women having to fetch water from open ponds near by. The women complained of severe water problem. Even the lane adjusent to the Mamlatdar office was terribly filthy and run down.



Women of Ghogha struggling for water near the terminal

Garbage dumps opposite the ferry terminal.

Besides, to reach this "world-class" terminal one has to manoeuvre through herds of cows all along the highway cutting one's speed to half.



Herds of cows all along the highway to the RoRo terminal.


It will be great if a journalist does a series on the number of projects inargurated by Mr. Modi first as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and then as the PM in the State. A cost benefit analysis and the status of the projects inaugurated by Mr. Modi would be good to know. But then would the journalist be able to retain her job?

End.