China Business VisitChina Business Visit

www.kochousephchittilappilly.comwww.kochousephchittilappilly.com

I had been to China in September I had been to China in September on a business visit. It has been a on a business visit. It has been a few years since I last visited. few years since I last visited.

Coming to think of China, there Coming to think of China, there are a few similarities with India are a few similarities with India such as a large population, such as a large population, rapidly growing economies and rapidly growing economies and an educated workforce. an educated workforce.

But, the similarities end there. But, the similarities end there. There is a huge gap in terms of There is a huge gap in terms of Infrastructure. I was to witness Infrastructure. I was to witness this in the following days. this in the following days.

My journey took me to the My journey took me to the Eastern provinces. It did give me Eastern provinces. It did give me a taste of modern China. The a taste of modern China. The progress that they have made is progress that they have made is only to be seen to be believed. only to be seen to be believed.

The roads were all exceptionally The roads were all exceptionally wide and well maintained. There wide and well maintained. There were fly-over's everywhere. were fly-over's everywhere.

They seem to have perfected the They seem to have perfected the art of building fly-over's. In fact, art of building fly-over's. In fact, fly-over's seem to be stacked one fly-over's seem to be stacked one over the other over the other

  I was dumbstruck to see cars I was dumbstruck to see cars speeding at over 90 km/hr, speeding at over 90 km/hr, through the heart of Shanghai through the heart of Shanghai city, along an elevated highway, city, along an elevated highway, at peak hours. at peak hours.

I found that the highways were I found that the highways were constructed with adequate constructed with adequate allowance of space for future allowance of space for future usage, and lined with well pruned usage, and lined with well pruned trees trees

  Later, I found to my amazement, Later, I found to my amazement, trees about 5-6 metre high that trees about 5-6 metre high that have been grown elsewhere, have been grown elsewhere, being transplanted along the being transplanted along the highway. I couldn't help admiring highway. I couldn't help admiring their wisdom and foresight. their wisdom and foresight.

I travelled by car from a city I travelled by car from a city called Ningbo to another city called Ningbo to another city called Haining. It was a two hour called Haining. It was a two hour drive along the Ningbo-Shanghai drive along the Ningbo-Shanghai Express Highway.  Express Highway. 

We happened to cross the We happened to cross the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, Hangzhou Bay Bridge, constructed over the sea. Opened constructed over the sea. Opened to the public in the year 2008, at to the public in the year 2008, at a cost of USD 1.7 billion, it is a six a cost of USD 1.7 billion, it is a six lane bridge, about 36 kms long. lane bridge, about 36 kms long.

Truly, an amazing structure. It Truly, an amazing structure. It reduces the distance between reduces the distance between Ningbo and Shanghai by 120 Ningbo and Shanghai by 120 Kms. The people simply didn't Kms. The people simply didn't seem to mind paying an seem to mind paying an equivalent of Rs. 620/- as toll fee equivalent of Rs. 620/- as toll fee

The surprise didn't end there! The surprise didn't end there! Much more was in store. Before Much more was in store. Before my return, I also happened to my return, I also happened to travel along the Qingdao Jiaozhou travel along the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the longest sea Bay Bridge, the longest sea crossing bridge in the world crossing bridge in the world

  It is about 41.58 Km long It is about 41.58 Km long featuring eight traffic lanes. At a featuring eight traffic lanes. At a cost of a whopping USD 2.3 cost of a whopping USD 2.3 billion, it was opened to the public billion, it was opened to the public in June, 2011. in June, 2011.

One has to pay a fee equivalent One has to pay a fee equivalent of Rs.1390 for the 4 hour journey of Rs.1390 for the 4 hour journey along the road and crossing the along the road and crossing the bridge.  bridge. 

My driver said that he would My driver said that he would gladly pay the amount rather gladly pay the amount rather than waste fuel and time by than waste fuel and time by taking an alternate route. taking an alternate route.

Midway I stepped out of the car to Midway I stepped out of the car to admire the view. The bridge was admire the view. The bridge was illuminated with rows and rows of illuminated with rows and rows of lights mounted on the median lights mounted on the median and side railings and side railings

  In the distance, I could see big In the distance, I could see big ships as tiny specks on the sea. ships as tiny specks on the sea. The salty sea breeze and the The salty sea breeze and the 360° view of calm blue sea 360° view of calm blue sea stretching beyond the horizon stretching beyond the horizon was a breathtaking moment! was a breathtaking moment!

It's strange, but in contrast, India, It's strange, but in contrast, India, invariably all infrastructure invariably all infrastructure projects are mired in allegations projects are mired in allegations and counter allegations.  and counter allegations. 

It doesn't seem to be so in China. It doesn't seem to be so in China. Corruption doesn't seem to be Corruption doesn't seem to be completely non-existent however completely non-existent however concerted efforts and concerted efforts and commitment is plainly visible commitment is plainly visible when it comes to execution of when it comes to execution of projects. projects.

As I could see, all Express As I could see, all Express Highways pass through densely Highways pass through densely populated areas. But, they are all populated areas. But, they are all elevated ones which do not elevated ones which do not require massive displacement of require massive displacement of people. people.

You may well remember the hue You may well remember the hue and cry in Kerala, generated over and cry in Kerala, generated over the Express Highway, a few years the Express Highway, a few years ago. Many alleged it would divide ago. Many alleged it would divide Kerala into two halves. Kerala into two halves.

A project that could have A project that could have revolutionized our State, failed to revolutionized our State, failed to take off. And we are left ruing lost take off. And we are left ruing lost opportunities.opportunities.

It's not just about the roads and It's not just about the roads and fly-over's. Train travel was equally fly-over's. Train travel was equally fascinating. fascinating.

Contact Us Contact Us

www.vguard.inwww.vguard.in

www.kochousephchittilappilly.comwww.kochousephchittilappilly.com