During the annual work balance of Mitrans, chaired by Manuel Marrero Cruz, it was revealed that several actions are focused on consolidating the development of computerization and strengthening the link with universities.

The transportation sector revealed some of the goals for the year 2023, among hich stand out to comply with the passenger and cargo transportation plans; to improve the quality of services; to begin the recovery, sustainability and development of infrastructure and means in all branches of transportation.

In the annual meeting to assess the work of the Ministry of Transportation, chaired by Manuel Marrero Cruz, member of the Political Bureau of the Party and Prime Minister, at the Palace of the Revolution, it transcended that other actions focus on stopping the deterioration of roads and the start of its recovery, consolidating the development of computerization and strengthening the link with universities.

This year, said Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, Minister of Transportation, the goal is to achieve the integration of all sectors of the industry to improve the quality of services.

At the meeting, attended by the member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party and head of its Department of Attention to Services Yudí Mercedes Rodríguez Hernández, and Deputy Prime Minister Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, the Head of Government said that the country is facing the worsening of the economic blockade, the world economic crisis and a complex international situation.

He insisted that “we live in different times and it would be a mistake to do the same, using the sam working methods of previous years. In this 2023, results are required”.

He stressed the need to eliminate what he considered self-blocking and the limitations that many impose on themselves, with the aim of moving forward and seeking alternative solutions.

“Transportation has had and has problems; however, it has ensured, to the extent of its transversality, the main economic activities of the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister considered that the most economical solution for cargo transportations should be cabotage and oriented to maintain the support of state cars in public transportation.

Marrero Cruz pointed out that measures must be analyzed and taken in matters related to passenger transportation prices, a very sensitive issue for the population.

He added that an adequate implementation of Decree 83 on the transfer of ownership of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers, their commercialization and import must be achieved; raise the coefficients of technical availability of vehicles with closed financing schemes and use innovation to recover spare parts and added values.

He specified that there are still dissatisfactions with the work of the forwarding companies (dedicated to the distribution of international parcels) which, in the case of the Ministry of Transport (MITRANS), include the entities Aerovaradero S.A. and Empresa Transitario de Cargas (Transcargo).

On the other hand, the Prime Minister said that the road system is one of the most complex issues and that it is necessary, in order to guarantee the productive activity, to solve it and to analyze what else can be done regarding road safety.

A LOOK INSIDE THE TRANSPORT SECTOR

Regarding cargo, Pablo Cuellar Gonzalez, Director of Cargo at MITRANS, said that the participation of different economic actors in the management should be increased, work plans should be organized objectively to optimize resources, and the use of railroads and cabotage for long-distance cargo transportation should be encouraged.

In the case of Operation Port-Transport-Internal Economy (OPTEI in Spanish), Brigadier General Lázaro Pichs, head of the auxiliary group of this operation, commented that it is necessary to maintain as a work style the transport groupings, which makes the beginning of OPTEI swifter and, therefore, to the extraction in the ports and final delivery to the client.

Luis Ladrón de Guevara, director of Passenger Transportation at MITRANS, pointed out that, although 2023 will be difficult for the activity, the measures adopted will allow beginning a gradual recovery.

The report presented includes the objectives to fulfill the transportation plans of the main services: cabs, school, urban, interurban, workers and rural.

Luis Roberto Roses Hernández, general director of the Cuban Railroad Union, pointed out that part of the actions for this year are focused on achieving the recovery of decommissioned equipment -including the manufacture of ferrobuses-, increasing the efficiency, the quality of services and strengthening preventive work to avoid railroad accidents.

Marrero Cruz urged to achieve alternatives for transportation in rural areas with the carahatas (small motor cars), to conclude the work on the Central Railway Station of the capital and to analyze the use and exploitation of urban trains.

Regarding the maritime sector, Alejandro García, director of the Grupo Empresarial Marítimo Portuario (GEMAR in Spanish), said that among the projections is the launching of the ferry service and the floating dock. Regarding the latter, Marrero Cruz affirmed that it is a priority for the country.

Joel Beltrán Archer Santos, president of Corporación de la Aviación Cubana S.A. (CACSA in Spanish), said that efforts are aimed at improving the quality of passenger and aircraft service, and achieving the sustainability of technological systems that have a great impact on air activity, among other aspects.

He added that work is underway to recover the runways of the airports of Cayo Coco, Havana and Santiago de Cuba, as well as the expansion of Terminal 3 of the capital’s José Martí International Airport, a task that should be completed this year.

Caption: Marrero Cruz pointed out that measures should be analyzed and adopted in matters related to passenger transportation prices, a very sensitive issue for the population. Photo: José M. Correa

source: Granma