Parliament on December 23 discussed city planning issues, including traffic jams, traffic police, and infrastructure.

According to statistics, auto accidents have increased as the number of registered vehicles has risen in recent years. About 160 auto accidents have been registered daily and 322 people have been killed in accidents so far this year. Most accidents have occurred in the countryside, and 60 percent of the deaths have occurred on local roads. The accidents account for about MNT 2.5 billion in economic losses.

G.Bayarsaikhan stated that traffic police are known to take bribes. He asked officials of the Traffic Police Office to more closely monitor their employees’ work. He also said that bus drivers should be monitored more closely because buses have been involved in major accidents in recent years.

The head of the Traffic Police Office explained that about 180 police officers work on the roads each day, when that number should be 340. But he said his organization doesn’t have the budget to increase staffing. He said about 30 percent of police officers take sick leave in the winter because they work 14 to 15 hours outside each day. He said citizens do not report alleged bribery, so his organization is unable to take measures to stop it. He said there is a telephone hotline for reporting bribery, and his office has organized corruption prevention training with the Anti-Corruption Authority.

Justice and Internal Affairs Minister Ts.Nyamdorj urged measures to reduce traffic jams and to determine the number of police officers needed. He also said a plan should be prepared to reduce jams, including widening roads and building more roads. He said the issue should be submitted to the Government.