Major Failures in Gujarat Maritime Board Projects: Public Funds and Lives at Risk
The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) is facing mounting scrutiny over significant lapses in its project execution and management. Over the years, four major GMB projects—at Okha, Dahej, Mangrol, and Ghogha—have exposed glaring deficiencies, resulting in massive financial losses and raising serious safety concerns. These failures have sparked questions about the board’s accountability and operational oversight.
Okha: Tragic Accident at a Multi-Crore Project
A severe incident occurred at the Okha port in Devbhoomi Dwarka district, where a construction mishap claimed the lives of three workers. The incident involved a crane toppling at the GMB’s jetty construction site. This tragedy has raised serious questions about the design and safety measures of the project, as well as the overall monitoring and management by GMB officials.
Mangrol: Breakwater Wall Collapses Before Completion
In Mangrol, a breakwater wall constructed to control tidal flow at the port failed before its official inauguration. The collapse highlights serious deficiencies in design and execution overall at a cost of ₹151 crore. Reports suggest a miscalculation in balancing the force of tidal currents with the construction materials used, underscoring a lack of professional oversight in GMB’s project management.
Dahej Ro-Ro Ferry Service: Operational and Financial Setbacks
The Ghogha-Dahej Ro-Ro ferry project stands as a prime example of mismanagement and oversight failures. Initially designed for the more suitable Ghogha-Hazira (Suvali) route, the project was later altered to connect Ghogha and Dahej, leading to logistical and operational challenges.
Due to these foundational errors, extensive capital dredging was required for the terminal and channel at Dahej, inflating project costs to over ₹800 crore—several times the original budget. Later Dahej’s project was dropped. This mismanagement wasted significant public funds and delayed the project’s success.
At GHOGHA Issues with Dredging and Channel Maintenance
The Ferry project also faced setbacks due to dredging errors. As per tender specifications, dredged soil was to be disposed of five nautical miles at mid sea. However, in violation of these terms, the soil was deposited near the channel, causing sediment build-up. This accumulation created hazardous obstructions for vessels, significantly increasing the risk of accidents. Despite the severity of the issue, GMB has yet to take corrective action.
Why Did These Projects Fail?
The recurring failures in Gujarat Maritime Board’s (GMB) major projects expose systemic issues in planning, execution, and oversight. These failures not only reflect operational inefficiencies but also highlight a lack of accountability within the organization. Below are the key reasons behind these high-profile project breakdowns:
1. Ghogha: Hazardous Dredging Practices
At Ghogha Port, the mishandling of dredged materials led to significant operational challenges. Instead of disposing of dredged soil five nautical miles as mandated, it was dumped near the turning circle and channel. This practice created sediment build-up, forming an obstruction in the channel, particularly visible during low tide.
- Impact: The sediment poses a serious risk of accidents for vessels navigating the channel. The lack of foresight in ensuring the safe disposal of dredged material reflects poor project management and technical oversight.
2. Dahej: Unviable Site Selection
Experts initially flagged Dahej as an unsuitable location for the ferry project. Despite these warnings, GMB officers pursued the project at Dahej, only to face multiple challenges:
- Dredging Issues: Persistent problems with siltation and sedimentation required repeated dredging, leading to inflated costs.
- Insufficient Water Depth: The ferry ship often failed to obtain the necessary draft near the jetty, making operations infeasible.
Eventually, the Dahej project was abandoned, and Hazira was selected as the destination for the ferry service. However, the initial misstep resulted in the loss of significant public funds and project delays.
3. Okha Port: Safety and Certification Oversights
The tragic accident at Okha Port, where a crane collapse claimed three lives, raised multiple safety concerns:
- Crane Certification: Was the crane certified for its load-bearing capacity? When was the last physical inspection conducted? Questions about the equipment’s compliance with safety standards remain unanswered.
- Structural Design: Were the piles and spans of the jetty adequately designed to withstand the currents of the Arabian Sea? This incident highlights gaps in safety protocols and construction quality assurance.
4. Mangrol: Pre-Operational Failure of Breakwater Wall
The breakwater wall at Mangrol, constructed at a cost of ₹151 crore, collapsed before the project could even become operational. This raises serious questions about the project’s design and execution:
- Design Accountability: Who was responsible for the flawed design of the breakwater wall?
- Monitoring Failures: Which GMB officials were tasked with supervising the project, and why was the collapse not anticipated?
The premature failure of the breakwater wall underscores the absence of thorough engineering assessments and diligent project oversight.
Financial and Operational Impacts
The failure of these projects has imposed a heavy financial burden on GMB. Public funds amounting to hundreds of crores have been wasted due to mismanagement and poor decision-making. Additionally, these failures have delayed critical infrastructure projects, affecting the state’s maritime connectivity and economic growth.
Lack of Accountability
Despite repeated setbacks, GMB has not taken significant steps to address internal accountability. To date:
- No specific officers or officials have been held responsible for these failures.
- Stringent actions have not been initiated to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
This lack of accountability undermines public confidence in GMB’s ability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects effectively.
The Way Forward
To address these systemic issues and rebuild trust, GMB must take the following steps:
- Independent Audits: Engage external agencies to audit project designs, execution, and safety protocols.
- Enhanced Technical Oversight: Implement stricter monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with technical standards.
- Accountability Framework: Identify and penalize officials responsible for mismanagement and negligence.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Involve experts and stakeholders in the decision-making process to ensure feasibility and sustainability.
- Transparency in Operations: Publish detailed project reports to maintain transparency and accountability.
GMB’s Response: Promises of Investigation
In light of these repeated failures, GMB Vice Chairman and CEO Rajkumar Beniwal has assured that comprehensive investigations will be conducted. For the Okha incident, forensic science experts have been engaged to analyze samples from the construction site. Similarly, inquiries into issues at Dahej, Mangrol, and Ghogha are underway. If negligence is proven, officials responsible will face stringent actions, Beniwal stated.
