Announcement of Transport Survey in Colombia on May 16, 1961

HOLD FOR RELEASE WORLD • INTr-'l~NATIONi\ 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON 25, D. C. TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 PRESS RELEASE NO. 685 SUBJECT: Transport Survey For Release AM Newspapers in Colombia Tuesday, May 16, 1961 The Government of Colombia and the World Bank have agreed to sponsor a survey of Colombia's transportation facilities and needs with the objective of formulating a coorclinated transportation investment program. The survey is being undertaken by the New York engineering firm of Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade & Douglas which is sending 13 experts to Colombia. A joint Colombian-World Bank steering committee will have responsibility for the general • guidance and supervision of the consultants' work, including arranging for basic information and available studies required for the purpose of the survey, and liaison bet-ween the consuitants and public and private entities. In addition to the survey, the Colombian National Railways have engage.d four experts from the New York engineering firm of Coverdale & Colpitts to advise the Railways on their management and their investment program. The consultants will prepare a report recommending a coordinated program for investment in highways, railways, ports and airports, indicating the priorities of specific projects in each sector and preliminary views on their costs and benefits. The program and priorities will be as specific as possible with regard to investments in the period 1961-1965 and. will be more general for investments in the next five-year period. The report will include recommendations for improve- ments in organization and administration of each sector, and for the regulation of rail, road and river transport, and advice on the future planning of transportation. The survey is expected to take six months and the consultants will present a draft report to the Government of Colombia and the Bank at the end of October 1961 • and a final report as soon as possible thereafter. The foreign exchange cost of the survey will be paid half by the Bank as tech- nical assistance, and half by the Government from the proceeds of a Bank loan made in 1956 for highway construction. The Government will pay al~ domestic currency requirements.