August 26, 2009 Chairman Yano's regular press conference

(Moderator)

Now that it's time, let's start the regular press conference. Well, then, I'm looking forward to working with you.

(Chairman)

Good afternoon everyone, and thank you very much for gathering here in the heat of the day.
Today, I would like to explain 10 items in total, together with the usual business overview. First, I would like to give you an overview of the current status of our business. The breakdown is 23.5% for expressway and 29.5% for IRI. The number of vehicles passing through the expressway was minus 0.3%, while the number of vehicles owned by the single ownership was plus 2.0%. Although the number of tolls was on par with last year, the significant decrease in toll revenues was the result of various measures taken since last fall.
The ETC discount amount was 28.8 billion yen, which was 16.3 billion yen for the same month last year, resulting in a 77% increase in the discount amount. Without the ETC discount, the toll revenue would have been 67.2 billion yen, an increase of 0.5% over the same month last year, although this is a fictitious figure.
The total traffic volume by vehicle type was 99.7%, including 104.2% for mini vehicles, 103.2% for standard-sized vehicles, 88.9% for medium-sized vehicles, 85.4% for large vehicles, and 82.0% for oversized vehicles. The figures are different from the 100.2% I just mentioned, but I mentioned them to show you the same trend. On the other hand, when we look at the number of vehicles driven in kilometers, the situation is a little different. The overall trend is not so different, but the figures are 110.4% for mini vehicles, 113.5% for standard vehicles, 89.4% for medium vehicles, 89.0% for large vehicles, 85.7% for extra large vehicles, and 105.2% in total. We believe that this is due to the increase in the number of vehicles traveling long distances.

The second item, the status of construction, has not changed since last month, so I will omit it.
Regarding the ETC system, the number of vehicles in use is 109.5%, and the average daily usage rate is 110.2%, which is an increase compared to the same month last year. The daily average usage rate is 110.2%, which is an increase compared to the same month last year. From the 3rd to the 9th of last month, the rate was 83.8%, and I think it is fair to say that the rate remained unchanged. The number of in-vehicle installations is 27.1 million.

As for the service area situation, it is 102.7% compared to last year. The breakdown of the 109.5% is 119.3% for holidays and 103.5% for weekdays. The service sector accounted for 111.4%, the gasoline sector for 84.9%, and the sales volume for 122.9%, a 30% increase, but there is still a price difference of 54 yen for regular gasoline, which is still 85% when multiplied by the sales volume. The advertising department's share is 75.0%. This is the summary of our business. This is an overview of our business.

Next, I would like to give you an update on the recovery from the damage caused by the earthquake that struck Suruga Bay on March 11, which caused great inconvenience to many people, including our customers. The Out-bound line opened at 24:00 on the 12th, and the In-bound line was unblocked at 24:00 on the 15th. We would like to thank you again for the support and cooperation of many people. I will explain the details later from Mr. Yoshikawa, Executive Director of the Maintenance and Service Business Director General, which is the Director General of this measure, but I would like to start by making three points.
First of all, emergency restoration has been completed, but we will need to do the main restoration work in the future. As I have already informed you, the road was opened at midnight on the 16th, and on the 17th, the first meeting of the Earthquake Disaster Investigation Committee, chaired by Dr. Ota of Chuo University, was held at the site of the disaster. The committee is scheduled to meet three times in total, including the first meeting, to investigate the causes of this disaster, formulate a plan for restoration work, and identify areas of embankment with similar conditions and countermeasures. We hope to reach a conclusion by the end of October. After that, we will work to restore the damaged areas as soon as possible, conduct surveys of similar areas, and take the necessary measures.
Secondly, the main artery of our country, Tomei Expwy, was closed to traffic for a long period of time, causing inconvenience to many people due to detours and changes in plans. As one of the measures against congestion, the local people used the 1.3-km Oigawa Bridge, Shin-Tomei Expwy, which is under construction, and we must make every effort to open Shin-Tomei Expressway as soon as possible in preparation for the Tokai and Tonankai earthquakes that are said to occur in the near future. We are determined to make every possible effort to open the new service as soon as possible.
Thirdly, every year, not only our company but also other companies hold disaster drills on September 1, and we would like to use this earthquake as a valuable lesson to verify the efforts of each department, and to conduct more practical drills that simulate a larger earthquake. We would like to conduct more practical drills for larger earthquakes. We would like to conduct more practical drills, assuming a larger earthquake. Now, Mr. Kikkawa will explain the details.

 

(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

This is Yoshikawa from the Maintenance and Service Business Director General. Now, I would like to explain it with the document "[Emergency Report] 115 hours until Tomei Restoration". This is a summary of the history so far until emergency recovery.

Now, I would like you to take a look at the first page. As I wrote here, at 5:07 a.m. on August 11, an earthquake with the epicenter in Suruga Bay caused the embankment slope near the Makinohara service area to collapse and the road was closed. As of 24 o'clock on the 15th, all road closures have been lifted. Thank you very much for your support and cooperation in this emergency restoration, local residents, neighboring landowners, police, and members of the press. I would like to continue to proceed with this restoration work.

I wrote about the earthquake outline in (2). As you have announced, a maximum seismic intensity of less than 6 has been observed in Makinohara City.
Next, on the second page, (3) Seismometers are installed at our interchange in terms of the affected area and seismic measurements, but the measured seismic intensity is 5.1 at the YOSHIDA IC before and after the disaster area, and 5.9 at the Kikukawa IC. The affected area is 191.6 kp.

(4) Regarding the disaster situation, as shown below, photos taken by helicopter from above.
This is the third page. This is an overview and timeline from occurrence to completion of emergency restoration. As you can see here, the slope of the embankment collapsed at an extension of about 40 meters, and the road between Tokyo IC and Toyokawa IC was closed sequentially from 5:08 on the 11th. After that, we conducted an inspection and lifted the road closure section sequentially, but in the end, the road was closed in the section including Makinohara IC. Therefore, we held a press conference at 4 p.m., and announced that we would aim to complete the construction at 24 o'clock on the 12th as soon as possible, as the immediate recovery target is during the Bon period. However, the next day, at 7 o'clock on the 12th, we made a press release, but based on the situation, we made the first change to the construction method. At this point, I was thinking that I wanted to somehow aim for around noon on the 13th.
On the 12th, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kaneko inspected the site at 11:20. The minister said, "Since it is also the time when it is crowded with people returning home, we have asked that the road closure be lifted by the end of today, even on the Out-bound line." In response to this, we made a press announcement at 11 p.m. This is the announcement that the road closure of the entire Out-bound line and the Yaizu IC-Shizuoka IC on the In-bound line side will be lifted at 24 o'clock, and we have lifted it.
Then we held a press conference at 11 o'clock on the 13th. This is the second construction method change. We canceled this because it became difficult to drive H steel on the shoulder, and changed to an embankment method using H steel on the butt and then a large sandbag. Along with this, we announced that the lifting of the road closure is expected to occur within the 15th. After that, we made a press release at 22 o'clock on the 15th and announced that the road closure would be lifted at 24 o'clock, and it is a situation that all road closures were lifted at 24 o'clock.
On the fourth page, a cross-sectional view of the final emergency restoration work is drawn. In this way, steel sheet piles were placed on the median strip, H steel was placed on the butt of the glue, and concrete embankments were made on the front of the strip. Therefore, it was restored by large sandbags and cement stabilized roadbeds.
(7) I have posted a photo because it is an emergency restoration work status. This is how we proceeded with the work. In this emergency restoration work, a total of 163 companies and a total of about 1,100 people were engaged in the restoration work, including large heavy construction machinery from Shin-Tomei Expressway construction sites and the dispatch of workers to support them. In addition, about 1,200 people from the NEXCO Central Japan Group and its affiliates worked together to carry out emergency restoration day and night.
At the bottom of the fourth page, the work status of the Out-bound line that was opened earlier is written.
Then, from the fifth page, you wrote about the work status of the In-bound line, and it was done in this order. It is on page 5, page 6, and then page 7. We have changed the construction method twice this time. So, (8) In terms of the selection process of emergency restoration countermeasures, the original idea and final results are posted here. We held a press conference at 4 p.m. on August 11. At this time, we installed H steel on the shoulder of the road, and by stopping the soil and filling the soil back into the collapsed area, we will try to restore it as soon as possible, and we have initially announced that we will restore it at 24 o'clock on the 12th.

Next, I would like you to see page 8. This is the first change in the construction method, but we announced it in the form of a press release at 7 o'clock on August 12. Regarding the embankment of this In-bound line, it was more unstable than expected, and the collapse was progressing sequentially, so in order to ensure the safety of the H steel driving work on the shoulder of this road, we decided to drive H steel into the driving lane and the other inside. In addition, since there was a crack in the pavement surface on the Out-bound line, we sealed this crack, etc., but based on the opinion of the local study group with experts, we also installed steel sheet piles on the median strip side of the Out-bound line to prevent the collapse of the Out-bound line. In line with this change, we have made the first change by targeting the recovery forecast around noon on the 13th. As I will tell you later, the fact that only the Out-bound line was able to open first on the Out-bound 13th means that this steel sheet pile was effective.
Then the second construction method change was carried out at 11 o'clock on August 13th. As I said earlier, we tried to drive H steel, but as the collapse progressed, it became even more difficult to drive H steel. There were cobblestones and other things underneath, and it was difficult for H steel to enter. So, I drove H steel into the butt of the glue and changed it to the shape of the so-called embankment. We have installed large sandbags by driving H steel, and then applying cement stabilization treatment to the embankment material, and we have changed the expected lifting of the road closure within 15 days due to this change in construction method. In the course of further embankment work, some unstable parts have occurred, and we have made changes such as pouring concrete to the butt of the embankment and lightening the weight of the embankment, such as laying large Styrofoam blocks in the embankment, and then we managed to make it in time for the opening of the embankment on the 15th.
After the opening, we have taken into account the observation and monitoring system of the emergency restoration site, and we are observing the mutation of the ground surface by GPS. In addition, we have installed web cameras at two locations to monitor the local situation, and we have deployed on-site monitoring personnel and constant traffic control personnel to maintain a 24-hour monitoring system. In addition, Makinohara SA on the In-bound line is arranging a pavement repair team in case of damage to the pavement.

On page 10, I wrote about (10) Measures for the restoration of this book [establishment of a review committee], but I will omit this because Chairman Yano spoke about it earlier. We are asking 7 members, etc.

Then, on page 11, it is a change in traffic conditions that Chuo Expressway Tomei Expressway due to (11) earthquakes. In comparison of the traffic volume between the Chuo Expressway used as a detour and Tomei, the traffic volume increased by about 6% before the disaster, but the traffic volume decreased by about 9% to 50% during the period when the road was closed. This is the graph of the daily cross-sectional traffic volume below, and the red line is the comparison of Tomei in the previous year, the blue is the comparison of Chuo Expressway, and the gray is the ratio of Expressway others, and the bar graph shows the average traffic volume of Tomei, Chuo, and others. In Chuo Expressway, the traffic volume increased by about 11% before the road closure, but after the Tomei road closure, the traffic volume increased from about 19% to about 41%. On average, it was an increase of about 29%, or about 18,000 units.
It is estimated that about 470,000 customers are likely to have been affected by this Tomei road closure for 5 days. The traffic jam situation is written at the bottom. Before the disaster, traffic congestion in Tomei tended to increase by about 90% compared to the previous year, but during the road closure period, it decreased by about 40%. On the other hand, in Chuo Expressway, there was an increase of about 30% compared to the previous year before the disaster, but it increased further to about 70% during the period when the road was closed.

Continued on page 12. This is the impact of the earthquake on traffic.
This is a comparison between Tomei and Chuo Expressway, but in particular, it shows the traffic volume of the Fukuroi-Iwata section in Tomei, and the traffic volume of Okaya JCT-Ihoku in Chuo Expressway.
During the period when both the upper and lower lines were closed, the traffic volume between Fukuroi and Iwata in Tomei decreased by about 63% compared to the previous year. In response to this, the traffic volume increased by about 48% in the section of Chuo Expressway Okaya JCT-Ihoku. In addition, during the period when only the In-bound line was closed, the number of traffic between Fukuroi and Iwata decreased by about 58%. In addition, Okaya JCT-Ihoku has increased by about 55%. Therefore, I think it can be said that Chuo Expressway has demonstrated its wide-area network function and has been effectively used as a detour.

This is the 13th page. (12) As for traffic measures against Tomei road closures, since it is also the summer congestion season, we are introducing various measures to reduce the burden on customers here.
One is to recommend detours to Chuo Expressway, and in order to provide information on wide-area detours, we put out wide-area information boards and LED sign cars to move to Chuo Expressway, or we made announcements on flyers and information boards in service areas, etc. In addition, in Chuo Expressway, we were taking measures against congestion in the summer, but we have tried to strengthen measures against the summer congestion season because the traffic volume will increase further.
On page 14, it is said that a special transfer exception for holiday special discounts has been added, and from the place where traffic is expected to be very congested when coming from the city center side, Chuo Expressway Otsuki is expected, when moving to Tomei, where traffic is already carried out in front of it, we made a special exception for transfers where the special discount on holidays cannot be cut off. In this way, from August 13th to 16th, we have added a section subject to the transfer exception.
Then, in terms of congestion countermeasures on general roads, we established a "Liaison Council on Tomei Expwy Road Closures" with the Chubu Regional Development Bureau, Shizuoka Prefectural Police, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka City, etc., to share information and then coordinate responses.
Also, as the chairman mentioned earlier, Shin-Tomei Expressway In terms of the use of the Oigawa Bridge, the local people used the Shin-Tomei Expressway Oigawa Bridge between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 15. The number of vehicles used was about 800.

Continued on page 15. (13) As for the voices of customers and others regarding this incident, we received 140 opinions and requests from the 11th to the 16th. Some of them said that "the information provided is insufficient" and "what will happen to the transfer of fares", but what made us very happy was that we received many words of encouragement about the restoration work, although there were 32 cases. In addition, the Governor of Shizuoka Prefecture Kawakatsu also received a letter of thanks to our company immediately after the opening.
Last but not least, we have caused inconvenience to many people during the busy summer season and the Obon season, but we would like to continue to do our best for this recovery. That is all.

 

(Chairman)

Then, I would like to explain about other projects.
The third is the traffic conditions on the Expressway during the Obon season, but we also reported about the overall situation, despite the earthquake disaster. Mr. Nakamori, who is in charge of this, will explain this.

 

(Manager Nakamori)

Excuse me. I am Nakamori.
Then, I will report the traffic situation in the "congestion season in summer" in your handbook.

As stated at the beginning, we have already announced this matter on the 17th with the title of [Traffic situation of Expressway during Obon season]. We would like to analyze this and report three points.
The first point is the traffic situation, the second point is the traffic congestion, and the customer questionnaire regarding this discount is 3 points, so I will report based on this material.

First of all, regarding the traffic situation, various numbers are written in the frame, but before that, I would like to summarize and summarize the image of the table written in the middle row one point later. As for the two, I would like you to check the figure on the left side for the current summer congestion period and on the right side for the GW comparison.
Next, I wonder if there is a bar graph, but I think that this is a comparison between last year's traffic in 20 years and this year's 21 years, and I would like you to confirm that the red number is on the plus side or the minus side. I am. In addition, I would like to report on the traffic situation again while comparing it with the ones with (1) and (4) at the bottom so that you can compare it with the explanation materials.
I would like to confirm one point that this is an increase of about 8% as it is said that it is 11 days from August 6th to 16th in summer congestion season. Also, as shown in (1), the maximum discount for holidays is about 24%. I hope that you can also check the maximum 12% of the weekdays that we added to Obon this time. And I would like you to compare that about 5% off for large vehicles, it decreased by about 11% on weekdays.
Also, comparing GW with GW in this summer compared to GW, ④ is GW plus 12%, which I mentioned at the beginning, and about summer busy season On the contrary, I would like you to confirm that it fell below.
I also think that the average cross-sectional traffic per day is shown in the bottom row. I would like to look at the average of Expressway, which is the top row, and the 8% I mentioned at the beginning.
I would like to confirm about two more points, but in Tomei Expwy, it was 0.92 times compared to last year, and jumped one by 1.22 times for Chuo Expressway, so I explained earlier Tomei I would like to report whether or not Makinohara's suspension of traffic affects this number.

Please see the next page. As we have already announced regarding the traffic congestion situation, the number of traffic jams is roughly divided into 10 km and 30 km, and we have already reported.
The way to read this table is the same as before, comparing the summer congestion season with the GW. In particular, I would like you to confirm here how to read the table for the 10km I mentioned. Similarly, please check the blue and red parts last year and this 21st year, and also check the contents displayed from ① to ③ in the lower row. I would like you to check this number and the frame again, but if you compare the number of congestion occurrences with the previous year, it will be 43%, plus 55 times over the entire period. In addition, there are two places where the special discount is applied for holidays and ②, but we have confirmed and analyzed the high growth of double the number on holidays.
As for this matter, as we will show the numbers in comparison with GW, again, in the summer congestion period of (1), it is plus 43%, 55 times, and for GW, it is plus 78%, 69 times. Regarding the traffic congestion situation, it is in the form that it fell below the result.
For your reference, I would like to check the contents of the bottom table and the table of 30km traffic congestion that we have already published, which were described 14 times above and below from ① to ⑧ and ① to ⑥. The content has already been announced.

Last but not least, I would like to report on the special discounts during the Obon period, which are the results of a survey of customers. I'm very sorry, but I will report the results of the last survey, the 846 questionnaires on August 13, and the interview survey, which are sorted by age.
I would like to return to page 3 again. I think there are three pie charts lined up, but about 95% in the sense that you were aware of the special discount for Bon Festival this time, I think that there may be a result of various public relations strategies, but "Yes" 95% confirmation I was allowed to. In response to the question, "whether the publicity prompted you to go out," nearly 30% of the respondents answered yes. Also, as shown in the lower row, it is a table that 10% of them have their dates changed due to this discount.
As I mentioned earlier, in the frame, we will report the questionnaire result that most customers (about 95%), and about 30% in total, have used (triggered) new Expressway. It was. Thank you for the above 3 points.

 

(Chairman)

Next, there are four announcements today.

First, we decided to introduce the reverse auction method for the first time in material procurement. Increase the operational efficiency of bid participants. Then, we will adopt this method for procurement of anti-freezing agents by further increasing competitiveness.
The feature of this method is that it is an auction site on the Web using the Internet. Therefore, bidders will enter bid prices multiple times within a certain period of time to bid down. Then, the bidder who had the lowest price wins the bid. As I said, the materials we are introducing are antifreeze agents, and we have two plans for the time being. The first case has been announced as a bid on August 21, but the Kanazawa Preservation and Service Center is planning to bid on October 22 for "2009 Hokuriku Expwy Kanazawa In-Phase Freezing Detergent Purchase". . The other is a project scheduled by the Nagoya Regional Head Office in November, "(tentative name) 2009 Tomei Expwy Toyota / Nagoya freeze protection agent purchase".
In the future, after verifying the results of this implementation situation, we plan to gradually expand to other civil engineering materials.

Next is the fast-fall autumn menu. We are announcing a new menu every four seasons, but this time it will be renewed on September 19th as it is an autumn menu. It is a combination of seasonal ingredients and local ingredients that are rich in local colors. The contents are as shown in this list.

Next, for the Mitsubishi UFJ Nikos campaign, this is to carry out this campaign together with Mitsubishi UFJ Nikos in order to make customers use SA / PA even more during the autumn holiday season. UFJ NICOS As you know, together with our premium Drivers' will is not being issued a card.
From September 16th to November 30th, if you shop with a credit card at SA / PA in NEXCO Central Japan, from 1,000 yen, 50 yen will be drawn by lottery for 50 people with one lot of 1,000 yen A gift of 10,000 yen worth of shopping vouchers.
The other one, this is not the first time, also in the SA · PA of our tube premium between October 18 from September 19, Drivers' the customers who are shopping in the card, usually 200 We have added 2 points for yen, but this time we will carry out a 5x points campaign for SA / PA, which will add 5 points for every 200 yen for this period.

Next, we are planning a customer appreciation event. We will do it at 14 venues, but we will display road patrol cars and lift cars that we can not usually touch at SA at SA, and let's enjoy it for everyone including children.
As for where and what to do, it is as stated in the attached sheet, and it will be held at 14 venues in the jurisdiction, divided into Saturdays and Sundays on September 26 and 27, and Saturday and Sunday on October 3 and 4. .

Next, this is a matter to be reported, but it has already been announced by the Nagoya Regional Head Office on August 24th, but this passage from October 1st to Mie Kawagoe-Tobishima Isewangan Expwy The maximum discount is 5%.
Since the construction of Line 23 may be carried out, it is intended to use the Expressway as a detour by trying to alleviate the congestion of Route 23 and National Route 1. The period is from October 1st to April 28th. For the pictures of the place and the discounted charges, please refer to the materials you have.

Then, next time, I would like to report on the conservation activities of native species trees in parks in Nagoya city, as we talk about environmental efforts.
This is to try to preserve the ecosystem by using regional seedlings that we are working hard on. We have been doing so far, but we have grown about 700,000 regional seedlings at NEXCO. In Central Japan, this environmental measure is an important management issue, and until now we have been using technologies such as ecosystem conservation such as the cultivation of regional seedlings on Expressway, but we are going to do that outside as well. It starts from May of this year. We are going to partner with 6 related organizations such as 3 NPO groups.
In addition, there will be a large international COP10 conference in Nagoya next October, and we plan to plant it in Nagoya through partnership projects. The current plan is to have 1,000 regional seedlings. As you can see in this picture, first of all, the leaves and seeds are collected, and there is a NEXCO planting technology center in Shiga prefecture. When it is cultivated and there is a height of about 50 cm, it is returned to its original location. Is to plant. With regard to where and how to do it, in relation to Nagoya city this time, I plan to think about two places such as Higashiyama Park.

I have summarized "Looking back on privatization for three and a half years", so I will explain the materials.
As you know, there are three purposes of privatization on page 4. How did you do that? The first is a scheme to return interest-bearing debt amounting to 40 trillion yen over 45 years. Up to now, we have paid about 5 trillion yen in rent to JQA, paid 70 billion yen in corporate tax, and secured 85 billion yen in retained earnings. This is the total number of NEXCO3 companies.
After that, the private management decisions will be made on the sections that should be maintained as toll roads. This is NEXCO3 company, which has constructed approximately 300km of 27 sections at an early cost reduction.
Then, by leveraging the know-how of the private sector, we will provide various services such as flexible price setting and service areas. We have implemented various ETC time zone discounts and plan discounts. In addition, this has resulted in an average discount rate of approximately 26%. Our company is a little more expensive. The figures exclude various policies after autumn.
Regarding new businesses, we are launching new businesses such as overseas business, card business, and travel business, for example by establishing new commercial facilities and beautifying restrooms by improving customer services.
Due to the recent economic downturn, the traffic volume of trucks and large vehicles is decreasing, and it is in a difficult situation, but I think it has been going well for the past four years.
I think that everyone is aware of the mechanism of privatization, so please check this material. I would like to talk a little about our unique measures. We are making and implementing a five-year medium-term plan. It's been 4 years for 1 year each year, but I've added 1 year to make a 5 year plan. Our goal is to put the five basic stances into practice in order to become a good company and a strong company, and we are currently promoting “CSR management” and “Group integrated management” as two pillars. We are doing various things such as "setting up a customer center" because our customers are our first priority.
From page 11 onward, we have added various materials regarding road maintenance. As our own way of thinking, page 13 describes "100 Year Road Plan". It is important to build a new road, but it is also important to keep the existing road and make it last longer. In other words, it means that people's property is entrusted to them, and I think it's important to think in that way.
As for pages 14 and after, it is as explained earlier.
On page 21, we have been carrying out various planned discounts, paying attention and handing out guides, free traffic safety seminars, and home delivery seminars by our own efforts. Up to now, 30,000 people have taken the course, and the initiative is to dispatch employees as instructors.
Since environmental measures are various important measures, we are taking them.
If you look at page 23, we have worked hard to reduce the cost of road construction. With this, we have achieved a reduction of approximately 6% over the agreement.
Page 24 is about the construction of Shin-Tomei Expressway, which we are doing our best. We want to make a road that can be proud of to the world and use it for our customers' flights. We plan to carry out a verification test from this fall.
On page 25, fundraising is progressing well, and from next year all necessary funds will be voluntarily funded. Until now, there were government-guaranteed corporate bonds, but the number has decreased as planned. We are now in the final stages.
I've written a lot about the businesses I'm currently focusing on, but overseas businesses like those on page 27. We also accept trainees from overseas. I would like to work on a long-term basis by financing overseas. The travel business, advertising business, and card business are still in the future, but I would like to focus on them.
Page 29 shows the maintenance cost, which is about 23% of the revenue. This will naturally increase as the roads age, and we are doing a "100-year road plan" by creating a road that will last 100 years while suppressing the cost increase. . I want to make this happen.
I am sorry that it has become very long. This concludes my explanation.

 

(Moderator)

Then, thank you if you have any questions.

(Reporter)

I would like to ask you one point. The next Sunday is the election day for the general election, and one of the issues in the general election is the free Expressway. According to polls, there is also talk of democracy. I think it will be an issue that will attract a lot of attention next week. Please tell us if you have any thoughts or problems at the present stage.

(Chairman)

The mechanics of operating Expressway for a fee have been running for 44 years since Meishin opened and 40 years since the opening of Tomei. This has been followed on other new routes. After all, a system with a long history has been operated by the agreement of the people. If we want to change that from the ground up, I think we need a new national consensus. The reason why Japan decided to adopt the toll road system was that Japan was poor at that time. If it was rich, it might have been made with taxes, or it could have been made free from the beginning. Since it was poor at the time, one was the toll system, and the other was a large loan to the World Bank, which was used to raise funds and build a road. I also walked all over the prefecture and 11 prefectures all over the world, but I asked if I could manage to make the price a little cheaper. However, I haven't heard that you want it to be free. This is because there is a certain national consensus, and if the roads are toll-paid, it would be cheaper if possible. I have understood that this is the idea of the average people and drivers. So there is a certain amount of national agreement. I think that it will be difficult to achieve if we do not make a new national consensus as I said at the beginning. Again, there are some concrete themes when it comes to obtaining concrete national agreements. Considering that, first of all, the issue of financial resources. As I explained about the result of the privatization, the debt of 40 trillion yen is steadily decreasing. I think it's okay to be in good shape. The economic downturn hasn't had much impact, but it's been going well.
I do not know the details, but I understand that it is a plan of 1.3 trillion yen every year by issuing 60-year government bonds, but if the repayment period is 60 years, the burden on each year will decrease. , I think it is based on such an idea. After all, if the issue of financial resources is not taken into account, it may not be possible to obtain a national consensus. I've been in this company for three years, and I thought I could repay my debt for my grandchildren. However, when it comes to 60 years, I don't think it will end until I have a grandchild. This is a big change and it is necessary to form a sufficient national consensus on that point. This is the first point.
The second point is the issue of fairness. The road is for those who use it. We have come to the point that the user will bear the cost, and this is the “beneficiary burden principle”. As I said earlier, the road is damaged due to the large amount of traffic due to deterioration. As a matter of course, it is the principle of the beneficiary's burden that the individual bears the cost. Then, I think it is necessary to carefully examine the relationship with other transportation means and whether or not injustice will occur. We have received various voices and reports from everyone, and I don't think this is a minor problem. Then, looking at the world trend, even the famous German autobahn, which was famous for free, is trying to charge heavy trucks. The United States has begun to adopt some of them. So it seems that the world's national agreement is moving towards paying. On the other hand, Japan is going in the opposite direction. I think it is necessary to give an explanation on this point as well and reach an agreement.
The third problem is congestion. I explained the GW and Obon from a while ago, but I think that it will be even more crowded if this becomes free. Naturally, this will slow down the flow of people and logistics, which will reduce economic activity. I think that the international competitiveness will decline and it will have a big impact in the long run. Further, in the present situation, in terms of environmental load, a Expressway requires less CO2 than a general road. Therefore, it is the Expressway that has an environmentally friendly character. I think we have to be prepared to lose its benefits when it gets very crowded. I think there should be enough discussion about whether or not that is the case.
The other is the problem of employment. To tell you directly, there is no need for a toll collection point. Currently, there are 3,000 people who are directly involved in toll collection. I would like to say that NEXCO3 has about 20,000 people who are involved in the task of collecting fees when they include a backup unit. If you make it free, there will be no work and there will be a problem of unemployment. The people who work here are about 60 years old, and they continue to work as elderly people. Even if they are not, it is difficult for them to re-employment. Therefore, how to deal with the employment problem is actually a very serious problem for us, and the employees of the toll collection company are undergoing major fluctuations. I think it is necessary to find a way to solve it properly.
By overcoming these challenges, I think it will be the first time that a national consensus will be created. In that sense, I hope that broad discussions will take place and answers will be provided.

(Reporter)

At present, the idea is to keep paying when there is no national agreement.

(Chairman)

It is a story that I will not go from right to left until a national agreement is reached.

(Reporter)

In the story of the earthquake, I would like to verify the efforts of each department separately from disaster prevention drills and think about practical training assuming a larger earthquake, but specifically what kind of image, scale etc. Please tell me if you are leaning.

(Chairman)

Companies in our Group will be fully mobilized to do this from the morning.

(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

In the disaster prevention drill on September 1, there was one organizational structure based on this earthquake, information transmission method, concrete damage, this time there was one major disaster area, but this is Tokai / Tonankai An earthquake can have many places.
Therefore, on the assumption that there are many damaged areas, we would like to conduct a training with a large number of groups participating from the conservation center. Also, assuming that the disaster area is Shizuoka, I would like to carry out training that also includes support and support systems for other Hachioji, Nagoya, and Kanazawa.

(Reporter)

Then, do you have an image of how many people will participate?

(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

I'll look it up and answer you later.

(Chairman)

There are 2100 employees in the parent company, including Companies in our Group, which is about 8500. Detailed numbers will be reported later.

(Reporter)

As for Tomei, is there a suspension of traffic when doing the construction for this restoration? Also, how long will the construction work be?
The second point is to investigate a similar place in Makinohara and construct it, but what kind of place is it similar?

(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

I would like to think about ways to avoid road closures as much as possible. Even if I go there, I would like to take a temporary short-term response.
It is the second recovery method, but I do not know because there is no conclusion yet. I do not know the construction period as it depends on the construction method.
Then, regarding similar parts, I would like to analyze the cause of this time, select a place close to this place, and consider it in the direction of investigation.

(Reporter)

Are there many target areas?

(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

There is one place in this earthquake, but I don't think there are so many.

(Chairman)

We will announce it as soon as the results of the investigation committee are announced, so we will explain it in detail at that time.

(Reporter)

Regarding the collapse of the Tomei City this time, I heard that I accept that the construction was able to be restored temporarily, but how does the chairperson himself take it? How do you handle the restoration work?

(Chairman)

Roads are aging. In that sense, I didn't think I should be alert.
From the perspective of how to prevent disasters. Also, there is something called force majeure because it is a natural disaster. I want to do something if it can be stopped by our power. Since then, I am deeply sorry for the inconvenience caused to our customers and locals.
Also, regarding the restoration work, we received a lot of support and encouragement from the local people as well as many people, and we all worked hard. I did it for 5 days without 24 hours off. Also, I'm relieved to say so far. And unfortunately, I'm glad that there were no casualties.

(Reporter)

Regarding the embankment, I heard that there are no similar parts, but if you know the number of parts you are grasping at this point, please tell me.

(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

We are currently not aware of any similarities to Makinohara. However, we are going to do a detailed survey, so I would like to report on the results of detailed examination.
As for the personnel who participated in the disaster prevention drill mentioned earlier, I would like to put the entire group together to conduct a system of 8500 people.

(Reporter)

There was talk of an agreement with the people about the free Expressway, but what exactly does the agreement mean? For example, does it mean that the Democratic Party has won the election?

(Chairman)

There are many issues in this election. Expressway is an important item for us, and I think it is one of them. It is necessary to discuss it individually and deepen the contents. It doesn't go into detail, at least looking at what is public. As I said, some topics remain, and it is important to discuss them thoroughly.

(Reporter)

How much will it cost to recover from the earthquake? Also, although the construction method for this restoration has not been decided, how much will it cost if construction is done?

(Chairman)

The temporary restoration cost about 1 billion yen. For this restoration, the contents cannot be determined because the contents have not been decided. However, I will do it no matter how much money it costs. Also, I would like to make a report when it is clear.

(Reporter)

There is a document "Looking back on privatization for three and a half years", but I would like to hear the thoughts announced at this timing.

(Chairman)

This has been considered for a long time. It was organized by consulting with three companies. I was planning to announce it when the time came. We talked about this last month and talked to everyone about the common parts of the whole and the unique efforts of each company.

(Reporter)

It seems that one of the issues in the general election is about the Expressway, so it has never been announced at that timing.

(Chairman)

Not necessarily, it just happened to match.
It was nice next month, but I decided to make it today because I want to report it as soon as it's done. It wasn't in time for last month, so there is a history of being today.

(Moderator)

If there are no other specific questions, this is the end of the 46th regular press conference.
Thank you very much.