MINSK, 19 August (BelTA) – A single national operator of intelligent transportation systems may be set up in Belarus. The feasibility of the project was discussed at a meeting of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko with the Council of Ministers, BelTA has learned.
Speaking of ways of improving transportation infrastructure, the president said that more than a year ago, an investor proposed a single national operator project. The proposal was about creating the single system of all of the country's intelligent transportation systems (toll roads, parking system, weight and dimensional control, and speed cameras).
“The government has been instructed to work out this issue in detail. Obviously, in the public interest. At least, we need it to work better than it does now and make a profit. If we are to carry out digital transformation of the transportation infrastructure, it should be done in the most advanced and convenient way for people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He mentioned the problem of parking lots as an example: “Everyone knows that parking lots are in a mess, especially in Minsk. Here, in our most populated city, many people like to park their cars wherever they want. We have paid zones all over the city's center, but still some citizens park their cars there without paying. There are neither payment discipline nor proposals to impose it.”
According to the president, the same situation occurs with the compliance of weight limits on the roads. Inspectors annually identify thousands of violations. “It is the safety of our roads. Heavy vehicles are simply destroying it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
The president outlined a number of questions: “The key question is: will a single national operator really enhance road and public safety, and be able to improve financial and technological discipline? If so, what amount of investment will be required to implement the project? What is the payback period? Have the future budget revenues been analyzed? So far, there are no clear answers to my questions. Therefore, I ask you to report on what benefits the proposed project will bring to the country. How accurate are the investor's economic projections? Or is the main growth factor in his business plan an increase in tariffs?”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also inquired about other ways to save the county’s budget funds.
Speaking of ways of improving transportation infrastructure, the president said that more than a year ago, an investor proposed a single national operator project. The proposal was about creating the single system of all of the country's intelligent transportation systems (toll roads, parking system, weight and dimensional control, and speed cameras).
“The government has been instructed to work out this issue in detail. Obviously, in the public interest. At least, we need it to work better than it does now and make a profit. If we are to carry out digital transformation of the transportation infrastructure, it should be done in the most advanced and convenient way for people,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
He mentioned the problem of parking lots as an example: “Everyone knows that parking lots are in a mess, especially in Minsk. Here, in our most populated city, many people like to park their cars wherever they want. We have paid zones all over the city's center, but still some citizens park their cars there without paying. There are neither payment discipline nor proposals to impose it.”
According to the president, the same situation occurs with the compliance of weight limits on the roads. Inspectors annually identify thousands of violations. “It is the safety of our roads. Heavy vehicles are simply destroying it,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
The president outlined a number of questions: “The key question is: will a single national operator really enhance road and public safety, and be able to improve financial and technological discipline? If so, what amount of investment will be required to implement the project? What is the payback period? Have the future budget revenues been analyzed? So far, there are no clear answers to my questions. Therefore, I ask you to report on what benefits the proposed project will bring to the country. How accurate are the investor's economic projections? Or is the main growth factor in his business plan an increase in tariffs?”
Aleksandr Lukashenko also inquired about other ways to save the county’s budget funds.
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