3,382.96
The first meeting ofthe Road and Transportation committee under the President was held at the Civil
Chamber on May 13, with members of the committee joined by state organization
officials, representatives of NGOs, the private sector, individual citizens and
several people who worked in the sector. They discussed a Parliament protocol
of 2010, which was passed to build a 5,572-km auto road linking Ulaanbaatar
with aimag centers. They also discussed construction of a proposed 990-km Altanbulag
– Ulaanbaatar – Zamiin-Uud road, and of 212 km of auto roads in Ulaanbaatar, besides
repairs to 350 km of existing roads and building 7 new bridges.
State Secretary of the Ministry of Road, Transportation and Urban Development
J.Bat-Erdene and Chief of Auto Road Board of Ulaanbaatar Administration D.Od
told the meeting of the policy of the
Ministry regarding implementation of road projects, its general plan of action,
the capital needed and its likely sources. They also answered questions.
The general feeling was that the bad quality of roads was due to several
disparate factors, such as use of dated methods and technology, lack of
adequate capital, absence of overseeing, and workers without proper skills. There
was criticism of the willful damage to the environment resulting from road
companies’ illegal activity. Some felt money was wasted in frequent stopgap
repairs to underground pipes, but Bat-Erdene explained that the Ministry did
not have the money to build a new tunnel system that would save both capital
and time.
The views expressed at the meeting would be collected and submitted to the
Government and to President Ts.Elbegdorj.
