"World class" RORO terminal Modi inaugurated: Filth in neigbhourhood, herds of cows on way, service suspended

Run down look of the new ROTO Ferry Terminal (left); way to the terminal in Ghogha

By Nandini Oza*
The people of the country may recall the inauguration of the RORO (roll-on/roll-off) ferry by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Ghogha, Gujarat, just before the state elections last year. The RORO ferry service connecting my hometown 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.

Garbage dumps opposite the ferry terminal

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 September 15, 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.

Women of Ghogha struggling for water near the terminal

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 potholes full of lanes. 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 adjaent to the mamlatdar office was terribly filthy and run down.
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 inaugurated by 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 Modi would be good to know. But then, would the journalist be able to retain her job?
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*Independent researcher and activist, formerly with Narmada Bachao Andolan. Blog: https://nandinioza.blogspot.com/

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