Parliament
discussed on Friday morning the government proposal on railway transportation,
as slightly modified by a working group led by MP R.Rash. The main issue to be
debated is the width of the gauge. This was the first reading, so no conclusion
was reached.

MPs
generally favored the plan to build the railway in three stages. The first of
these will be from Tavantolgoi to Zuunbayan and from Sainshand to
Choibalsan.  L.Gundalai’s demand for a
400-km railroad from Erdenet to Murun city in Khuvsgul province was rejected by
Minister Kh.Battulga who said meeting the needs of mining was more important
now than developing tourism.

Opposing
the broad gauge, D.Terbishdagva said it would be “wrong to use this old
technology”. It would cost more and offer less benefit, he said. He urged the
working group to take professional help in determining the economics of the
project. The government favors the broad gauge as this would make for easier
connectivity with Russia, when minerals will be exported. 

The
Standing Committee on the Economy was asked to prepare the draft for the next
discussion.