Epress.am News from Armenia
The RA Ministry of Transportation and Communications has approached the National Assembly with a proposal for a new loan to continue construction of the North-South Road Corridor. The two loan amounts requested are $100 million and $60 million, planned to be spent on constructing the Ararat-Talin and Talin-Lanjik sections of the road.
During discussion of the issue in parliament today, MPs talked about reports by non-governmental organizations and the media that demonstrate serious doubts about the use of the previous loans.
RA Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Artur Arakelyan denied reports that Armenia had to pay a fine of $300,000 for not completing the program on time. But he acknowledged that there are shortcomings in terms of quality in the Artashat-Ararat road. According to him, the ministry won't pay the construction company until the shortcomings are addressed.
Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) MP Stepan Margaryan and Armenian National Congress (HAK) MP Hrant Bagratyan believed that reconstruction of the Artashat-Yerevan road was not an absolute priority, as it was already in good condition. According to Margaryan, the Gyumri-Bavra road is impassable, so it should've been repaired first.
Bagratyan, in turn, said he would first repair the Noyemberyan, Goris-Kapan, and Ijevan-Berd roads. According to him, Armenia is one of the leading countries in the world in number of paved roads per capita. The same high rate exists in terms of the level of gasification, he said, adding, however, that there are villages where the system has been installed, but they don't consume gas.
"If we put as much money into agriculture, villages would've blossomed by now," he said. According to him, before granting such loans in general, he said, a test must be conducted, which wasn't done.
Republican Party of Armenia MPs defended the loan program. MP Khosrov Harutyunyan said the country is known for its roads; thus, investments cannot be considered ineffective.
HAK MP Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, said he is voting against all loan programs, as voting in favor means giving a green light to abuse, kickbacks, and embezzlement.
Photo credit: RA Ministry of Transportation and Communications