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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

No gas, no gastronomic glitter

Dark shadow of shut down on Bhendi Bazar during Ramzan Mumbai : Like a middle-age crisis, the Middle-East War has sparked a mid-Ramadan panic in Mumbai’s famed Ramzan street-food markets of Mohammed Ali Road and its surroundings, thanks to the near-invisibility of commercial LPG cylinders.   Barely a week before the grand build-up for Eid-ul-Fitr, there is concern among the hundreds of eateries, wayside stalls, seasonal carts and traditional hoteliers and disappointment among the lakhs of...

No gas, no gastronomic glitter

Dark shadow of shut down on Bhendi Bazar during Ramzan Mumbai : Like a middle-age crisis, the Middle-East War has sparked a mid-Ramadan panic in Mumbai’s famed Ramzan street-food markets of Mohammed Ali Road and its surroundings, thanks to the near-invisibility of commercial LPG cylinders.   Barely a week before the grand build-up for Eid-ul-Fitr, there is concern among the hundreds of eateries, wayside stalls, seasonal carts and traditional hoteliers and disappointment among the lakhs of food freaks from Mumbai, outstation and even foreigners who throng here to indulge in wild nights of culinary delights.   “The crowds are still coming, but the gastronomic choices have significantly dwindled this week, particularly food items that require slow cooking, deep-frying, or constant heating. Some try to switch over to coal or firewood which is banned due to the pollution nuisance… We are somehow pulling on,” rued Khalid Hakim, owner of the 103-year-old Noor Mohammadi Hotel in Bhendi Bazar, told  ‘ The Perfect Voice’ . Hakim’s famous outlet boasts of the luscious ‘nalli-niharis’ introduced to Mumbai by his grandfather Abdulkarim Abdulhakim Shaikh some 85 years ago, and a road in the vicinity is named in the family’s honour. It was to this hotel that Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt had ‘gifted’ his signature crafted dish, ‘Chicken Sanjubaba’ that draws connoisseurs and celebs even today. Eateries Down Not all are lucky… At least two major diners, Shaheen and Paramount, shut shop this week and scores more await a ‘lifeline’ or may close down for the remainder of Ramadan, or till the LPG supplies normalize, as the Gulf War entered the 13 th  day.   Comprising Mohammed Ali Road, the iconic Minara Mosque precincts, the Bohri Mohalla, Nagpada, Bhendi Bazar, Dongri and other by-lanes teeming with the aroma of sizzling kebabs, bubbly malpuas, biryanis, pulaos, phirnis, faloodas, ice-creams and a host of other presentations in the month-long food carnival that awakens at sunset.   The Ramzan markets start work by afternoon, marinating meats, lighting stoves, preparing gigantic tavas or degdis or handis or grills or fryers to first cater to Muslims hungering for ‘iftar’ after the daylong fast, and soon taken over by the food buffs with the ‘khana-khazana’ continuing till the early next morning or ‘sehri’ time.   As most outlets are scrounging the bottoms of their LPG stocks, it has hit the Ramzan market and disappointing the foodies trooping in here daily with the drop in choices.   Limited Choices Many outlets like Surti-12 Handi renowned for Bohri cuisines prepared for hours in earthen pots over slow burners, Tawakkal Sweets acknowledged for special desserts like piping hot-and-fresh ‘malpuas’ or ‘jalebis’ since over 75 years, Fakhri Farsan Mart for yummy fresh samosas, kachoris or crunchies, Shalimar or Delhi Durbar for rich Mughlai cuisine, Al-Madina fast foods or Sarvi hotel, etc.   As the summer roasts Ramzan ‘rozdars’ (the faithful who fast), there is a huge demand for cold desserts and ice-creams at the Taj Ice-Cream parlour – existing since nearly a century, though they rely on gas-based processes before being refrigerated.   The top Ramzan sellers like Bheja Fry, Baida Roti, Kaleji Tawa Fry, grilled kebabs/tikkas, multiple types of biryanis, pulaos, an array of chicken dishes that tantalisingly wait to be gorged and topped off with the warm or chilled desserts, ice-creams and cold drinks – most are now produced in limited quantities or as per the visible demand.   Collateral Damage The Ramzan markets not only attract food-lovers but also boost the businesses of local stores filled with books, antiques, perfumes, dry-fruits, garments and jewellery, with dazzling colourful lights that add to the local festive buzz.   The Managing Director of ‘Love All-Serve All’, F. A. Ansari rued that it usually provides free Sehri and Iftar plates to the poor and needy in Ramadan, but this year they have stopped all fried items, dole out only fast-cooking chicken or veggies, owing to the LPG crisis which has gripped the festival economy that churns out crores of rupees of business.

Indian Shipbuilding A Must Win Marathon

Shipbuilding

With a coastline of 7500 KM, it is hard to imagine, that for the first 20 years (1947-1967) India had no ‘shipping ministry’. In 1967 a Shipping ministry “coupled” with ROAD transport was established. Since then, this ministry has been on a name changing ride, not once, not twice but six times. In 2009 the “ROAD Transport and Highways” was de-coupled and ‘Shipping’ ministry was formed. Turning point came in 2015 with a clear maritime vision for 2030 and 2047. Ministry was re-christened, aptly to Ministry of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” in 2020.


Why is Shipbuilding important for a country?

a. A Shipyard becomes an opportunity hub and like a queen bee requires the support of an industrial colony to manufacture machinery and equipment.

b. National Shipyards support fleet renewal needs of the Navy.

c. Contributes to national GDP, increases inflow of FOREX.


Korea shipbuilding is 8% of GDP. Japan’s automobile industry is 2.9% of GDP. India’s shipbuilding a meagre 0.000578% of GDP. In context, India’s pharmaceutical industry, ranked third largest in the world is 1.72% of India’s GDP.


International Shipbuilding Market

The market is estimated to reach around USD 200 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.84%. While India is at bottom with 0.07% of world share, behind Philippines 1.5% and Vietnam 1%, however on the positive side, India has done well in taking care of its defence needs, with 37 of 39 Naval ships being built in India yards. Rear Admiral S Shrikhande researching on maritime as a Fellow at Wollongong University, Australia, says “Shipbuilding in India needs both, serious incentivisation and dogged determination and not harping on being a big ship breaking country. That Garden Reach shipyard has a $54 million order for merchant ships from a German owner, is a good sign.”


Were Shipyards of 20th century in Flight mode?

Prominent shipyards in India were built in the colonial period. Mazagon Dock 1774, Garden reach 1884, Hindustan shipyard 1941 to cater to British navy and merchant fleet needs. Cochin shipyard 1972, Adani Katupalli 2013, Reliance Naval and Engineering, Rajula Gujarat 1997 and others have limited capacity, hence a lot more work to do. Capt. Subhangshu Dutt (Singapore) a mariner and now a shipowner, says “GOI should hold hands in any collaboration till the marriage with the foreign entity is reasonably stable. He also suggests that “new shipbuilding sites should be given to existing successful shipyards since they have decades of experience and talent. Consortium of 3 or more parties may also be good idea”.


Shipbuilding GOLD

As per SPLASH report the demand for LCO2 carriers could reach 2,500 ships by 2050. As per other estimates, 40% of global fleet of ships could have wind propulsion by 2050. A surge in such vessels is due to an unparallel waves of decarbonization in the shipping industry. Demand for ships with ‘carbon neutral’ badges, such as Dual fuel, Wind assisted, Nuclear fuel ships, Hydrogen powered ships, Liquified CO2 (LCO2) carrier, is outstripping supply. A must in the ‘bucket list’ of every Shipyard. Pinning down a standard ROI in shipbuilding is not easy, but experts suggest it could range from 4% to 15% for the high demand ‘carbon neutral’ ships. While an LNG new build vessel could cost US$ 250 million upwards.


International collaboration

On China’s shipbuilding success story, Manoj Pandalanghat (Singapore) a mariner and ship owner believes that “China has around 50 active Shipyards. Each have a few large dry docks. In each dock two or more large vessels are built simultaneously. Thus, a single yard is able to roll out 2/3 vessels/month, 36 vessels/year and 50 shipyards roll out 1800 vessels/year”.


China could be a jaldi-5, but India needs a sturdy Mount Fiji. Besides technology, Japanese bring the most important hand baggage of soft-skills and culture, essential for success from keel laying to delivery. Maruti’s is a standing example.


Food for thought for New Delhi

a. Expertise: Hire Naval Architects and shipbuilding experts with current international experience.

b. Government assistance: Land, Financial support, subsidies and timebound clearances.

c. Monitoring: PMO should monitor the first 5 to 10 years till Shipbuilding takes-off on this long-haul flight to destination 2047.


India’s Shipbuilding is expected to grow to $237 billion by year 2047. On a back of the envelope calculations this works out to about 4% of India’s 2047 projected GDP of $ 5 trillion. While cars are driven on roads, however the Ministry of roads and transport has little to do with “Automobile manufacturing”. On a similar note, ‘Shipbuilding’ as an industry has little to do with Ports, Shipping and Waterways, thus it may be worthwhile to consider a separate ‘Ship-building’ wing in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways headed by a dynamic cabinet rank minister. Since 2047 targets are stiff and an uphill task, so in all probabilities, the officials in Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways are likely to push beneath the carpet, delays and failures of Shipbuilding with sweet success stories of “Ports, Shipping and Waterways” and if this does happen then India will not only miss the Shipbuilding bus of 21st century but a lot more from a national security and strategic perspective.


(The author is a Shipping and Marine consultant. Member Singapore Shipping Association and empaneled with IMO as a specialist consultant. Views personal.)

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