Modern Morocco focuses on all-round development, keeps tourists happy
Young Moroccans are also very proud of their country, having sidestepped the Arab Spring and are delighted with their monarch’s modern attitudes to gender equality, national security and defence.
The first impression for a ferenji (foreigner) in Marrakech is of zero garbage in the main streets and the wonderful cohesion of the urban landscape. A planning law that only allows all buildings to be less than a certain height and to be within a range of the indigenous desert earth colour unifies the city, allowing everyone to admire all the beautiful mosque towers that pierce the horizon. Morocco is the confluence of Arab and Berber cultures. African and European civilisations meet here and this is reflected in the inhabitants of Marrakech with many of the riads and villas being occupied both as permanent or holiday homes for foreigners; indeed it is a favourite destination for parties. The Beckhams celebrated a recent 40th birthday there. From the date palms of Marrakech one can travel along the surprisingly 5-star roads across the stunning High Atlas range through the date palmeraies in the Draa Valley to the southern sand dunes and oases. This tarmac chicanery is perilously etched into the dramatically steep mountains. The new roads are an ongoing technical miracle with a new 7 kilometre tunnel in progress cutting through the mountain geology to shorten the time it takes to travel from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and Zagora, the ancient trading route that eventually leads to Timbuktu.
The historic fortified pise’d Kasbahs are in different stages of restoration and the 12th century mosque at Tin Mal is so awesome that UNESCO has awarded it World Heritage Status. But what mesmerised this reporter on the road trip was the country’s investment in such a magnificent infrastructure. Development is everywhere — from the Medina in Marrakech to the more remote towns and villages of Agdz and Skoura. The infrastructure is impressive. Electricity, water and hygienic sewage systems seem to have been provided everywhere. Outside Ouarzazate, acres of ready to build serviced plots are marked out as the king has apparently declared every Moroccan should have a home. Morocco has some of the largest solar power fields in the world, a thriving film and locations industry ( Gladiator was filmed near Ouarzazate), with prolific agriculture and plus 10 million international tourists a year being the main contributors to the economy (tourism’s contribution is approximately 20% of the whole economy). Morocco’s gold is phosphate. The land below Khouribga is stuffed with phosphate and Morocco sits with the United States and China as the top global producers. Morocco probably has the greatest reserves and is heading for the greatest production.
Young Moroccans are very proud of their country, having sidestepped the Arab Spring and delighted with their monarch’s modern attitudes to gender equality, national security and defence. We were informed that there are six American airbases in Morocco and that the new F16 jets were bought at a fraction of the price that their French competitor Rafale was quoting. Due to Morocco’s strategic position and checkered colonial history, King Mohammed VI inherited some of the most complex geopolitics and history in the world but has taken giant steps forward to bring Morocco into 21st century.
Indian Railways ticket bookings under the Tatkal quota continue to be problematic as touts and travel agents, in collusion with railway staff, are able to corner confirmed tickets within minutes of the opening of the ticket window.
The Sunday Guardian attempted a series of online transactions over a period of four days to book a ticket under the Tatkal quota from New Delhi to Patna in multiple trains, but failed as all the available tickets were booked within 30 seconds of the Tatkal window opening.
While the IRCTC website showed no availability for that day, a travel agent based in Noida arranged for an AC three-tier Rajdhani ticket after charging Rs 1,500 extra. On the Indian Rail website to check the next seven days’ Tatkal availability report, a search on 17 June for ticket availability on trains originating from Patna showed that there was no room (NR) in Patna Rajdhani in any class under the Tatkal scheme from 15 to 21 June. However, Tatkal tickets can only be booked one day before the actual travel date. In some not-so-popular trains, like the Magadh Express, the same search showed tickets were available under the Tatkal quota.
Railway officials not authorised to speak to the media admitted that there are problems with the Taktal scheme, most of which are due to the collusion of Railway staff with the agents. “It is a good scheme that has been misused by touts and some of our staff. Then there is also the need for augment-