Saturday, 17 December 2016
Prime Minister: “We need to create a smart system to improve the transport system; no other option is left”
Chaired by Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, the North-South Road Corridor, Sustainable Urban Development Investment and Northern Corridor Modernization Programs Governing Council held a regular meeting in the Office of Government.
The Prime Minister first asked about the situation at the Upper Lars border checkpoint. Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan reported that the motorway was open for passenger cars, and that the Georgian side was making efforts to clear the passage for trucks as well. Prime Minister Karapetyan considered it necessary to have a permanent representative on the spot in such emergencies and gave relevant instructions.
Down to the agenda, the meeting discussed amendments to the procurement terms of the Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program - Tranche 1 loan agreement. The program was said complemented with new transport hub projects, which are still under discussion. The Council next approved the tender evaluation results of the new route network, tariffs and a unified ticketing system for public transport consultant under the Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program - Tranche 1 activity.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of the new modern transport route network in Yerevan, noting the need for consistency in this matter. “We need to create a smart system to improve the transport system; no other option is left. A normal task force is to be established to build up the network. Our problems call for an accurate diagnosis; the network and the traffic need a detailed description. We must work closely and consistently with the tender winner,” Karen Karapetyan said stressing the need to introduce a ticket system for students and other groups.
The Council discussed and approved the tender documentation related to civil works on the western bypass of Babajanyan-Ashtarak road section under the Sustainable Urban Development Investment Program - Tranche 2 loan agreement. The road section is due to be 15 km long with 4-6 lanes. The construction is estimated at USD 36 million. The meeting next approved the tender results for civil works on the western bypass of Davidashen-Ashtarak road section.
Reference was also made to the progress report on the reconstruction of the transport hub between the western bypass road’s Nor-Shirak road section and the Yerevan-Artashat section of the North-South Road Corridor highway and the status of previous meeting’s assignments.
