The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (SCNS) has revealed cases of abuse of office by the former management of the Transport Department of the Bishkek City Hall, involving the signing of a knowingly unprofitable contract with foreign companies as part of the implementation of Automated Traffic Management System (ATMS) project.
It was revealed during the investigation that in the implementation of the ATMS project, officials of the Transport Department, without an appropriate feasibility study and preparation of traffic light infrastructure, concluded a contract using the direct purchase method with a foreign company for 128 million soms for 21 traffic light intersections (traffic light objects on Baytik Baatyr Street from Kurenkeev Street to Tokombaev Street and along Tokombaev Street to Zhetikashkaeva Street).
«Given the growing dissatisfaction of the capital’s residents regarding the transport collapse and the lack of declared project results, the municipality created a working commission to analyze the project’s implementation. The results revealed serious violations, including overpricing of purchased equipment by more than 18 million soms,» the SCNS reported.
The former director of the Transport Department U.U.K. and the former director of Road Transport Infrastructure municipal enterprise S.R.M. have been detained and placed in a pre-trial detention center.
The SCNS emphasizes that the said project is aimed at automating traffic management to minimize traffic jams. «However, in fact, given the technical shortcomings, constant intervention by employees of the Department of the Patrol Police Service is required to regulate the operation of traffic lights, which also confirms the ineffectiveness of this project,» the press release says.
