PM Kobakhidze backs creation of state road maintenance company

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said the government plans to establish a state-owned company responsible for road maintenance, arguing that the move would improve service quality and strengthen the country's ability to respond to natural disasters.

Kobakhidze on Tuesday said the proposed company would be responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of roads, rather than road construction projects.

According to the prime minister, the initiative is intended to address longstanding concerns over the quality of services provided by private contractors.

"We want to create a stable resource that will guarantee quality and operate under continuous oversight," Kobakhidze said.

He argued that, despite competition among private companies, service quality had often failed to meet expectations, while costs remained relatively high.

Kobakhidze said the state company would assume responsibility for maintaining standards and ensuring more consistent performance in road maintenance works.

The prime minister also highlighted what he described as a second major benefit of the initiative - improving Georgia's capacity to respond to emergencies and natural disasters.

He said the new company would allow the state to maintain a fleet of specialised equipment that could be deployed when needed to deal with landslides, flooding, heavy snowfall and other emergency situations.

"This initiative will have a dual effect," Kobakhidze said. "It will help ensure quality in road maintenance and provide the state with the specialised machinery needed to respond more effectively to natural disasters."