The Ulaanbaatar mayor’s council went over road construction projects, strategies for tackling traffic, and development projects for the education sector planned for this year last week.

City to focus on reducing traffic

Deputy Mayor in charge of Infrastructure and Ger Area Development P.Bayarkhuu introduced that the construction of an overpass at the intersection of the Traffic Police Department will be completed in 1.6 years, starting next month. To reduce traffic expected during the construction work, eight sub-roads will be newly built or expanded with 1.3 billion MNT. For example, 393 million MNT is required to build a 0.4-kilometer road connecting Mahatma Gandhi Street to Sun Road, 198.2 million MNT to build 0.3-kilometer road connecting Niislel Khuree Avenue to the National Academy of Governance, and 31.6 million MNT to build permanent traffic barriers along the 0.3-kilometer road between Khunnu Street, Saruul Town and Soyolj. Other plans include the construction of a 0.14-kilometer bridge between Road Workers’ Street and 13th microdistrict. Traffic is one of the most pressing challenges in Ulaanbaatar. Around 80 percent of all vehicles in Mongolia are driven in the capital, with some 40,000 imported each year. However, research shows that not a single car has been sent to the wreckage yard in recent years, reported Ulaanbaatar Mayor S.Batbold. “Two large overpass projects will be launched in Ulaanbaatar, meaning that traffic will increase tremendously. We will pay special attention to this matter. We hope that the public will understand this and be patient as road constructions commence. With public support, spring development projects will be completed within a short period of time at highest efficiency and quality,” he said. Some traffic restrictions will be placed from April 15 to October 1 to prevent traffic, according to P.Byarkhuu. Officials are debating two traffic restriction proposals. The first is to launch a driving restriction based on the last digit of license plates only in Baga Toiruu. In specific, vehicles with license plates ending with an odd number can drive along this road on Mondays and Wednesdays, while those ending with an even number drive on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays, large markets such as Narantuul and Bumbugur will be closed. Officials believe this will enable smoother passage on other roads. The second option is to allow cars with license plate ending with an odd number to drive from Sapporo intersection to Officers’ Palace on Mondays and Wednesdays, whereas those ending with an even number on Tuesdays and Thursdays and all cars on Fridays. Offiicials decided to conduct a public pollto determine which option to take.

 Schedule for infrastructure projects released

 City officials outlined a general schedule for infrastructure projects at the meeting. It includes 241 projects for 10 directions, according to B.Oyuntuya, the head of the Engineering Infrastructure Planning Division of the General Ulaanbaatar Urban Development Office. “Investment for infrastructure projects to be carried out is expected to increase this year. Project targeted at developing ger areas will intensify in summer with loans from international financial organizations. They will be implemented according to a general schedule. Associated organizations must follow the new schedule, avoid causing hindrance to local residents, and deliver precautionary announcements and notices on time,” stated Ulaanbaatar Mayor S.Batbold. He reminded that hot water outages must not prolong for a month like in previous years and should last a week at most. “We’re striving to do repair and maintenance work for pipes without cutting off hot water if possible,” the mayor said.

 18 new schools to be built

This year, the city administration plans to build 18 new schools and expand 27 schools, according to Deputy Mayor Sh.Ankhmaa. The construction of nine new schools and expansion of 25 schools will be executed with state funds. Seven new schools will be built with a grant from the Chinese government and the rest of the projects with a grant from the Japanese government. Construction work has been scheduled for 56 kindergartens -- 42 kindergartens will be newly constructed and 10 kindergartens expanded with state funds, two kindergartens with a discounted loan from the Asian Development Bank, and another two kindergartens with a discounted loan from UNICEF. Moreover, the government has projected financing for three elementary school and kindergarten complexes and five sport halls in the state budget. Sh.Ankhmaa reported that Beijing Construction Engineering Group has started assembling framework for five of the seven schools to be built with the Chinese grant. “Our plan is to reduce general education school shifts to two and increase availability of kindergartens to up to 85 percent by 2020. Many educational projects have been planned for 2018. Right now, land issues for 17 schools and kindergartens need to be resolved. These matters will soon be introduced to the government,” said Mayor S.Batbold.