D. Batbaatar, a senior official at the Auto Transportation
Agency of Mongolia, has said that the railway to be built around strategic
deposits will be effective in transporting minerals only if there are roads
linking it to the mines and surrounding habitations. The agency is busy
preparing its plans for all the work that lies ahead. A problem, even at this
preliminary stage, is that soil erosion has been noticed around mines. Building
paved roads can never be economically viable in Mongolia, as they will not be
used by enough cars to pay toll fees that would help recoup the invested
capital. With not enough money for proper maintenance, the surface begins to
deteriorate rapidly and the roads are almost unfit to be used after 10 years.
The climate also contributes to the damage.

In general, mining companies operating in Mongolia employ
Chinese drivers, as there is a dearth of locals with special licenses. The
agency is in talks with the Traffic Police Department to change the situation
and Batbaatar is confident that in the next three years, there will be enough
Mongolians to do the work that is almost monopolized by Chinese now.