About AMD 90 bln is needed annually for Armenian roads rehabilitation

ArmInfo. Armenian Prime Minister  thinks that Armenia will not be capable to implement the capital  rehabilitation of the country roads and requires the Ministry of  Transportation to hold a recalculation. 

On April 13 Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan visited the Ministry of  Transport, Communications and Information Technology. During a  consultation held with the Ministry's senior staff, the Premier  discussed ongoing projects, current issues and activities.

 The Prime Minister was first reported the current situation in the  field of road construction. It was noted that out of 7400 km road  network 3,600 km is in the Ministry's service domain, and 3,800 km -  in the provinces. About 20 percent of the road network - 1,400 km -  is in good condition, about 600 km in poor condition and in need of  urgent repairs, while the remaining 5,400 km is in a medium state and  can be maintained through running service.

The Head of Government was informed that a development program has  been developed for the next 5-7 years with an estimated volume of  annual investment of AMD 90 billion.

With reference to tenders, the Prime Minister highlighted the  provision of conditions for the development of cooperation between  road building companies and the entities entrusted with the  maintenance of roads. "The road builder and the operator need to  unite for cooperation purposes. I want you to formulate such rules as  may lead to large, serious companies," the Premier said.

ren Karapetyan was also briefed on the status of inter-marz and  intra-marz transport network and access to transportation. It was  noted that there are 153 inter-marz and 263 intra-marz routes, which  together serve 644 communities. The number of operators is 145. The  average profitability varies, depending on the volume of passenger  traffic. To give a thorough solution to the problem, the Ministry  considers it prospective to form a common route network and  consolidate operators.

Karen Karapetyan instructed the Ministry to take the initial  information as a basis and within two months, develop and submit the  terms of reference for a common route network, after which the next  steps will be considered.

The Prime Minister said to be pleased with the reports prepared by  the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology  and urged them to be more active and courageous.