NEXCO CENTRAL (Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited)




April 21, 2010 Chairman Yano's regular press conference

Conference Summary

(Moderator)

Now that it's time, let's start the regular press conference.


(Chairman)

NEXCO CENTRAL Hironori Yano, Chairman and CEO

You very much Hello.
There are many projects today, but I would appreciate your favor.
First of all, I would like to report on the current status of the business, but at the same time as reporting on March, we will also report on the total for the fiscal year.
Initially for March, the fee income was minus 9.6%. High speed is minus 9.5% and monopoly is minus 10.3%. Regarding the number of traffic, plus 9.1%, high speed plus 7.9%, monopoly plus 13.6%, compared to the same month last year. The number of passing cars increased, but the decrease in toll income was due to the effect of toll discounts. The trend is that it continues the same way.

This month's ETC discount amounted to 31,288 million yen, an increase of 62.0% compared to the same month the year before. The ETC discount rate is 43.9%. Fee income without ETC is 71,267 million yen, or 12.2%.

Then, although it is the fee income of the year, it is 446.9 billion yen, minus 19.9% compared to the previous year. One year before that, it was minus 26.1% compared to fiscal 2007. The breakdown is that the high speed is minus 19.4% and the monopoly is minus 24.2% compared to last year. Compared to the year before last, the high speed was minus 26.3% and the one was minus 23.6%. The average number of traffic per day was 1,724,000, which was 2.6% higher than the previous year and 2.0% higher than the 2007 level. Comparing with last year's comparison, high speed is plus 1.9%, Ichiyo is plus 5.5%, and compared with last year, high speed is plus 0.3% and Ichiyu is plus 9.3%. The fact that the number of passing cars has increased and the charges have decreased is the same as in the monthly analysis. The ETC discount amount for the fiscal year is 349.7 billion yen, and since the previous year was 198.1 billion yen, the increase in the discount amount is a plus 76.5%. Compared to the year before last, the discount amount is 170,700 million yen, which is an increase of 104.9%. The ETC discount rate is about 43.9%, and the fee income without ETC discount is 796.6 billion yen, which is 5.4% higher than the previous year and 2.8% higher than the previous year.
Regarding the number of each vehicle type that I report every time, I am very sorry that the number is full, but please be patient. Compared to a year ago, light passengers in March were 111.2%, ordinary 105.5%, medium 110.0%, large 119.9%, oversized 128.3%, total 107.9%. This is a Expressway. Compared to the year before last, light is 112.8%, medium 102.2%, medium 95.0%, large 95.9%, oversized 96.2%, total 101.6%. For medium-sized and larger models, it means that they have not returned to 100% compared to the previous year. On the other hand, the mileage is 115.4% for light vehicles, 111.1% for medium vehicles, 110.3% for medium vehicles, 116.6% for large vehicles, and 123.0% for extra large vehicles, which is a total of 112.5%. Compared to the year before last, 118.8% for light, 111.9% for medium, 95.8% for medium size, 98.5% for large size, 102.2% for extra large, and 107.8% in total. I would like to compare this year by year, but first, it is a comparison with one year ago by vehicle type, light 106.9%, medium 103.4%, medium 94.5%, large 94.9%, extra 94.2%, total 101.9% %is. Compared to the year before last, 113.2% were light, 101.8% were ordinary, 89.3% were medium-sized, 91.6% were large, 88.8% were extra large, and 100.3% in total. I think that the level of medium-sized cars and above is about 90% of the level of the previous year. The mileage kilometers are omitted. If you are interested, I have the data, so I will explain it again.

The construction situation has not changed.

Although it is the situation of ETC, the utilization rate in March was 85.9%. In the year, it was 84.3%, and it is increasing year by year as shown in this table. Most recently, April 9-15, 86.4%. Since it was 85.9% one month ago, it has increased slightly on weekdays, weekends and holidays. The number of installed units is 3,053,000, which means that, including re-setup, the number will be 37,500,000.

Although it is the situation of the service area, it is 113.4% compared to the previous year in March. 107.3% for food and beverage and product sales. The breakdown is 105.8% for food and drink and 108.3% for product sales. The service sector is 91.2%. I think this is because the Ashigara Out-bound line is under construction. Although it is gasoline, it is 138.2%. It's doing well. The unit price is 20 yen, which has been high since a year ago. Regularly speaking, the trend is from 112 yen to 132 yen. The quantity is 119.8%, so if you multiply both, the sales will be 138.2%. The advertising department was a little low in March, staying at 16.7%.
Regarding the fiscal year, it was 109.3% compared to the previous year. 109.5% of food and beverage and product sales departments. The food and drink department is 107.6%, and the product sales department is 110.7%. That is 105.3% in the service department and 108.5% in the GS department. Advertising department is 128.8%. From the beginning, the amount is small, but I think that it is doing well. The sales were about the same in 2008 and 2007, but it means that the sales are increasing year by year. I think that all of the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway and the opening of the Shin-Meishin Expressway have a good influence.

The second is the bidding situation and its analysis, which is the data reported quarterly. First is Figure 1. This shows the average successful bid rate for each fiscal year in fiscal 2009. The number of successful bids from January to March was 97, with an average successful bid rate of 84.3%. In addition, the number of successful bids in fiscal 2009 was 340, and the average successful bid rate was 84.0%.
Although it is Table 1 on the right side, it shows the successful bid rate by type of work. Comparing the successful bid rates for fiscal 2009 as a whole, the successful bid rates for civil engineering work and pavement work are low, but these are highly Standard due to the large number of bids and the increased competitiveness. We have analyzed that the successful bid rate has decreased.
Also, although there is the third sound insulation wall construction from the bottom, this is because there are many construction works that are installed on the Expressway with a relatively small amount of work, so there was little bidding, so the competitiveness decreased and the winning bid rate increased. I think
Then, as shown in Figure 2, this shows the situation of low bids. The low bid occurrence rate in fiscal 2009 was 51.7%. The incidence is around 50%, which is the trend that has continued since December 2008 when the base price for low bids was raised. However, since June 2009, due to the strengthening measures of the newly introduced low bid priority survey, we have decided to strengthen the successful bid rate to 75%, but the rate of low bids below this is halved compared to before the introduction. Therefore, I think that the effect of the measures is appearing.
Finally, as shown in Fig. 3, it shows the situation of bad bids, failure, and failure. The number of malfunctions in fiscal 2009 was 37, and the malfunction rate was 9.8%. Compared to the year 2008, it is halved. We believe that this is an indication of the effect of measures against bid slump due to the application of the open call for participants type quotation consultation method. However, even though it has been improved, there is still a 10% bidding slump, so we will continue to make efforts to reduce the occurrence as in the past.
Next, regarding traffic congestion prediction and countermeasures on the Expressway during Golden Week, this was announced on the 6th, but we will inform you again because the time is approaching again. Below, I will explain from the person in charge, Nakamori.

 


(General Manager in charge of Nakamori)

I am Nakamori from the Maintenance and Service Business Headquarters. Thank you.
As announced by the chairman, I announced on the 6th, so I would like to reiterate the point.
First is traffic congestion prediction. April 30th is a weekday, but a special holiday discount will be applied. We predict that there will be many traffic jams both In-bound Out-bound. It is predicted that there will be 173 congestions over 10km during peak hours, and 26 times over 30km.
In addition, Out-bound April 29 in line, 30 days, In-bound May 5th in the line has little prediction of congestion, we have a hope of distributed use. As mentioned above, there were 3 traffic congestion forecast situations.
Next, regarding measures to prevent accidents, we will continue to take the measures that have been implemented in the past, based on the traffic conditions during the busy season since GW last year. Thank you very much.

 


(Chairman)

This is the 4th next, but I would like to report on the restoration of the earthquake disaster in the Makinohara district of Tomei and the status of emergency inspections on similar embankments.
We have been working on this restoration work for the damaged embankment slope since last fall. We would like to report the progress of the construction work at this time and explain the similar embankment inspection status. The following will be explained from Managing Director Yoshikawa.

 


(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

My name is Yoshikawa and I am the General Manager of the Maintenance and Service Business Division. As we have just introduced, we will present an interim report on the restoration of the Makinohara area and a check result report on similar embankments.
Regarding the progress status, we are working diligently with the goal of completing the construction before the rainy season in 2010, and the current progress rate is about 70%. The red part of the cross section is the part under construction. In the future, we are going to work on the blue part. The photo is on the bottom, but we are currently working on the construction.
Next is the result of an emergency inspection of similar embankments.
Regarding the progress up to FY2009, we first extracted on the desk. After that, as a field reconnaissance, we conducted two surveys in normal times and after rainfall. This is the part that was completed by March. In terms of content, we examined the presence or absence of spring water, the presence of cracks on the road surface, the presence of subsidence, the presence of cracks on the slope surface, the presence of protrusions, and the deterioration of drainage system functions. When 381 locations were inspected on site, spring water and seepage were found at 143 locations. This did not require immediate measures, and there were no urgent measures such as cracks and subsidence on the road surface due to slippage, and subsidence and protrusion of the slope.
In the future, we will carry out a simple test called a simple dynamic cone penetration test to measure soil strength. If there is a problem in that situation, we are proceeding with a plan to conduct a detailed investigation such as a boring investigation. As a result of the field survey, the situation photos are as in the document.
Finally, I would like to report that I was awarded the Achievement Category of the International Road Safety Society Award on April 16. This award, which is under the jurisdiction of the National Police Agency, was awarded for the emergency restoration and opening of traffic in a short time of 115 hours.

 


(Chairman)

About four of the cases I will explain are news announced today.
The first is the start of operation of the quick charging system for electric vehicles in Tomei. It is a trial introduction in the Tomei service area, and we would like to gradually Large it. There is an organization called the Expressway Affiliated Company Social Contribution Council, but with the support of this, there will be 4 places in total, above and below the Ebina service area, above and below the Kamigo service area, but installed here, The operation will start from 11:00 on April 28. In order to use this service, it is necessary to register in advance, and either the user card, wallet mobile phone or Felica card is required. In addition, there is a charge of 100 yen per charge for use. This is the first attempt in our jurisdiction.
Since it is the opening ceremony, I would like to do a demonstration on the Out-bound line of Ebina SA at 10:00 on April 28th. We don't have a start ceremony in Kamigo, but we have a promotion event and a 150-day memorial ceremony for COP10 on May 21, so we plan to hold it there. As you know, COP10 is a big international conference that will be held from October 18th to 29th, and we would like to actively participate in this related event and be helpful. An overview of the charging system is given in the document, so I hope you will take a look.

Next is to start a profitable leisure, "Haya-Tike". Chuo Expressway Suwako SA 's up and down lines and Hamanako SA 's concierge counter will sell "Ticket Ticket", a leisure ticket with discounted entrance fees to various amusement parks from April 22 Is to start. We will do this by utilizing the JTB Group's infrastructure system. There are 94 affiliated leisure facilities, and tickets are sold at an average discount of 15%. The concierge will sell face-to-face and will issue an admission confirmation certificate there. If you bring it to the leisure facility, you can use it in exchange for an admission ticket. The table below shows the main ones of the 94 facilities, so please refer to it. If this goes well, I would like to do more Large.

Next is the release of original products such as "Jean Cushion". We will release original products limited to Expressway from 10:00 on the 22nd at 8 places of SA/PA and our Online Mall. One is the "Jean cushion", which is a cushion with a comfortable feel using a low-resilience urethane material with a restoring force, which can be used comfortably even during long-distance driving. The other is a ballpoint pen called Doctor Grip, which is sold with PILOT's ballpoint pen with a Expressway guide sign and ETC and a design such as Kero. The other is Jigsaw Puzzle Master "Japanese landscape-Fuji at dusk and Tomei Expressway" by Epoch, which will also be available from 22nd. We are working hard to develop products that are unique to Expressway. Although it is little by little, I feel that the variety has increased. I think we have made more ingenuity from now on.

It was decided to conclude a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Nagoya University. Expressway is the construction, maintenance, management or environment. In that respect, we will deepen cooperation in all fields where mutual cooperation is possible. The agreement will be signed at 13:30 on May 13th at Nagoya University Higashiyama Campus. President Hamaguchi and our company president Takahashi will sign the agreement. The content of the comprehensive agreement is in the final stage of closing, so we would like to announce it on the day.

Up to now, the four cases have been news today, and there is a service area automatic cleaning robot that is still under development. This was announced on March 30, but I would like to explain a little. After this interview is over, it seems that a demonstration will be scheduled, so please check it out. Mr. Inokuma, who is in charge, will explain.

 


(Manager Inokuma)

My name is Inokuma and I am the Director of Environment and Technology Department. I would like to explain the cleaning robot under development that the chairman talked about. The aim is to reduce the work of cleaning staff and improve the cleaning level while working to clean the toilets that customers use 24 hours a day. I hope that robots can realize them, so I recruited technical information on the website. Fuji Heavy Industries has provided us with the information, and as a result, we have signed a joint development contract since November 2009. The research period is until the end of September 2010. Fuji Heavy Industries has been working on a robotic building cleaning system for a long time, but we have been exchanging information about our 24-hour toilet cleaning and maintenance know-how, and have been conducting research. . As a cleaning stage, we attach a vacuum stage to suck dust, then a mopping and polishing stage, and a side brush to clean around the men's urinal. After that, we are fully considering the safety with the obstacle sensor. As for the future plan, since the machine is just completed, we would like to proceed with the demonstration experiment centered on Tomei SA. Next month, I plan to exhibit with robots from other companies at the Japan Pavilion Robot Stage at the Shanghai International Expo. A robot device diagram is shown on the next page, but the one on the left is a device designed for cleaning. The right side is the obstacle detection with the laser from before. that's all.

 


(Chairman)

This is the last project, but as an example of the environmentally friendly efforts that we introduce each time, it is a report that green recycling has been completed on the Shin-Tomei Expwy in Shizuoka Prefecture. This is the root stock generated during construction from Gotemba to Inasa, which is a huge amount. We use it to manufacture compost and chips, which we call "green recycling." If the total amount generated by the construction is 600,000 m 3, and if it is manufactured separately for compost and chips, the compost will be 90,000 m 3 and the chips will be 60,000 m 3. The compost was used as the base material for the vegetation slope protection work. Then, the chips were used as weed prevention / soil drying prevention material and mulching material. This was all used in the construction work of the Shin-Tomei Expressway and was completed. Regarding the amount of CO 2 generated, this system also generates 7,000 tons of CO 2. However, what happens if all of this is sent to incinerator is that 65,000 tons of CO 2 will be generated, and we believe that the deduction of 58,000 tons, or about 60,000 tons of CO 2 generation, has been suppressed. In the photo, you can see that it is used as a base material and a mulching material by switching from crushing to deposition, but we would like to continue promoting the 3Rs of resources and aim to reduce the environmental load. We believe.

It's been a long time, but I'll finish the explanation.

 


(Moderator)

So I'd like to take your questions.


(Reporter)

As for the quick charging system, please tell us if you have a concrete policy to introduce it sequentially.
In addition, the thing with the growth in sales of last year's service area, Shin-Meishin Expressway was asked elements such as the opening of the, expansion Toka location Toka increase of new products, please tell me kind of such elements is how much.


(Chairman)

Regarding rapid charging, it is a trial introduction and we think that it will be renewed after considering it as effective period until March 2012, but I think that it will be necessary to decide while considering the prevalence of electric vehicles in the future, but for the time being It's not where we are planning, but we would like Large to visit the SA between Tomei Expwy in Tokyo and Nagoya one after another.
It depends on how fast EV cars will spread, but I think that will eventually happen, so I would like to approach the Tomei with Large at SA. This is the answer to your first question.
Next, for SA, one of the major reasons for the increase in sales is the opening of new routes, but the other is that the traffic volume increased due to the tariff policy from March of last year or before that. I think it has led to an increase. I think the rate of increase in SA/PA sales was slightly higher than the rate of increase in traffic volume. I think this is the result of the hard work of the SA business division or the tenants at each SA, but I don't think this is enough. I think you are in a privileged environment, Expressway. If the number of customers passing through Expressway is increasing when the general retail industry is suffering, we may be able to increase the rate by creating attractive SAPA. Is the idea.
Another thing, which is not a big contribution to sales yet, is that we are doing Plat Park. This is also available from outside Expressway so that locals can shop and eat. The number of regular customers is increasing, and I think the impact will be even greater from now on. We are currently doing a large-scale improvement on some existing routes, but we are planning a large parking lot that can come from the outside and a large parking lot that can be stopped outside the highway, and further ahead. However, at Shin-Tomei Expressway, the outside parking lot will be firmly established from the beginning. Up until now, there was no such idea, and there were only parking lots for employees from the outside, but it has been gradually increasing over the past 1-2 years, but it is not enough yet. It's nice to have a lot of houses in your neighborhood, but if you can't access it by car, I think a parking lot is a necessity. From now on, I would like to emphasize Plat Park. In other words, I would like to bring not only customers who use Expressway, but also SA to become a regional center.
Due to all these factors, what I'm most happy about lately is that people say that the SA/PA toilet has been cleaned or that SA/PA has changed.
After all, people will not be pleased unless they make it an attractive place. From this point of view, this business will start, and I think that what grows will grow.
It's not clear that this is a new route, traffic volume, or use by local people.


(Reporter)

Regarding the disaster in Makinohara on the embankment, there are two questions, and one point is that there are 238 out of 381 points where "spring water" and "bleeding" are not confirmed, but I think there are 238, but regarding that, Doesn't it mean that there is nothing wrong with earthquake resistance?
The second point is that we will carry out a detailed survey in the future and consider the necessity of countermeasures, but regarding this, it is not decided yet to make earthquake resistance, what kind of earthquake can be endured. Is not it.


(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

As for the first question, first, I think that there is no problem with seismic resistance for those without "spring water". These are the three elements when extracting the similar part as before, one is the terrain where water gathers easily, the other is the possibility that rocky materials that are easy to slake are used, and at a height of 10 m We have chosen it, and it is said that water has a great influence, so I think there is no problem with this.
Then, it is the earthquake resistance of the embankment in the future, but the earthquake resistance of the embankment structure is a difficult problem, and until now the embankment structure will gradually increase in strength with the understanding that it will increase in strength. However, there is a risk that a place like Makinohara, which is easy to collect water or is easily affected by water, may collapse during an earthquake, so we do not think that the current embankment structure itself is a major problem in terms of earthquake resistance. However, when such conditions overlap, the problem of earthquake resistance comes out, so I checked and investigated where the conditions are met. Therefore, I think it is quite difficult to make the embankment structure earthquake-resistant, unlike bridges.


(Reporter)

If you do so, for example, in the case of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, I think that the seismic resistance standard of Level 2 was established after that, but even with regard to such things, there is no particular policy such as continuing work on Level 2 for example. Is it?


(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

Even in Hanshin, we have been conducting seismic reinforcement to increase the seismic resistance of bridge structures.
The earthwork part uses local materials and there are many different things, so it is difficult to set a uniform standard value for improving earthquake resistance. Therefore, we would like to take necessary measures while grasping the current situation of the embankment.


(Reporter)

Does the response still mean that we will judge based on the results of future research?


(Managing Director Yoshikawa)

Now that I have made a field survey and grasped the whole, I would like to take necessary measures depending on the local situation.


(Chairman)

To add a little supplement, we created the "Hundred Years of Road" plan as a pillar of our major management policy, and we started this spring last year. This is basically the decision to build a vibrant road for 100 years, whether it be embankments, tunnels or bridges. I happened to have a big earthquake last year, but I think it was a really good lesson. I was aware that the embankment would become stronger, but I decided to review this too and check all my concerns. I think all of these things will come in handy later. Therefore, if we try to create a vibrant road that will last for 100 years from the stage of making roads, we will do so with such consideration from the stage of making roads, no matter what structure or embankment If you do not look at it, it will definitely deteriorate, so on the basis of such a premise, we will make a road so that it will be okay even after 100 years, and after completion it will be easy to maintain and manage. I think that is important. I also went around every corner of our road, but there are structures that people can hardly enter, so if you make it easy for people to enter and check it at any time, that's it It can be durable and durable. Since we are doing that kind of thing from the stage of making it now, it may not be possible to completely answer the latter half of the question, but for example, Shin-Tomei Expressway makes such consideration, so I expect that it will appear in the results doing.


(Reporter)

This month, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced that it will introduce a new system of Expressway with a maximum charge of 2000 yen. It's hard to think due to various changes, but please tell us about how the chairman is viewed, its impact, and what happens to traffic congestion.


(Chairman)

We listen to us and start the necessary preparations. More than I do, I have prepared everything properly and I would like to hope.
The fact that the tolling system is becoming complicated has been a problem for us from the standpoint of operating roads, and I would like to welcome the simplification of this time. There seems to be various opinions about the level, so I think it is the final decision and how to implement it.
After all, I have to rewrite the system, but this is quite difficult. Last March, everyone was sweating and prepared. I think I managed to make it in time, but since there are similar issues this time around, I would like to overcome these one by one and make sure that I can operate properly when it starts properly.
Regarding the simplification of the fee system and the creation of a fee system that considers the global environment, I think the immediate challenge is to respect the basic idea and how to implement it.


(Reporter)

There are voices of opposition to issues such as the burden of financial resources from the JR and railway perspectives. What do you think about this?


(Chairman)

There were various opinions at the time of the previous 1000 yen. According to the explanation we receive, it is a social experiment that it will be a trial period until next spring. I think it would be good to evaluate various contents through such things.
Since this doesn't seem to be a system of permanent fixation from the beginning, the same goes for the free social experiment. There is always something I can't understand unless I try it, so I think that a better system will be created if I properly evaluate it.


(Reporter)

Regarding the current relationship, I think that this system also has various good aspects, but what is the outlook when this system is introduced, how will it affect traffic volume and toll revenue?


(Chairman)

I think the impact will always come out. It's the easiest place to evaluate later, because you can grasp exactly how congestion and congestion will happen and how income will move, and you can control it with numbers. We think that we have to make such efforts so that when the system starts operating, it will be put into a database and analyzed later, so that answers can be given.


(Reporter)

At present, what are the prospects for traffic volume reduction, toll revenue increase, etc.?


(Chairman)

I can't say anything. As I said, what happened over the past year with the current convenience promotion plan by doing 1000 yen? It's going to change a little, so I can't say exactly what it will be like.
I suppose this is only based on facts.
If there is anything that can be solved by our own efforts, even if it is crowded, we will do our best, so I think there may be SA/PA congestion or various measures at the toll booth window. I would like to carefully prepare the details.


(Reporter)

It may not be the story that the route of Japan Airlines will withdraw in the Nagoya area, but if you think about transportation infrastructure, if JAL withdraws, what is the current impression of the impact on Expressway use? Do you have.


(Chairman)

It will have an impact on economic activity. Logistics and people flow, both people flow and goods flow. Freight is an economic activity itself, and if more people pass, economic activity will become more active, so everyone is involved.
It seems that the government policy is gradually turning it into a hub airport to improve the economic effect, so I think it would be nice if a policy could be made in the long term from that perspective.
Airfields and harbors are inseparable from roads, so I would like to cooperate firmly wherever they cooperate.
If I say about Nagoya, I think that if the economy improves rapidly and the airfield becomes used flat enough that it will affect the road again, so what is the best thing to do? It means that economic activity will return to normal. I think so.


(Reporter)

The chairman said that it is a strong "100-year road", but I think that it is important for construction work to be constructive and economical, but when making a strong road, I think about that. What are you thinking about?


(Chairman)

When I think about the problem, there are three factors that I always think about, one is quality, one is cost efficiency, and the other is how quickly delivery can be done.
As I pointed out earlier, there are quality standards for social infrastructure that must be protected, and this must never be compromised.
But it is possible to make it cheap. We are finding new methods of construction and making great efforts, so new ideas will come out when we work with external universities and various research institutions.
Roads are really different from newer ones. You've been doing exactly that.
It is the same as if you open it as early as possible, the cost will be lower. It's a time cost. I want to do it that way.
I think we can go together with economics and quality. I thought it was our job and I am confident that it can be achieved.


(Reporter)

Regarding the conclusion of a comprehensive agreement with Nagoya University, it seems that the concrete contents are at the ceremony, but at the moment it is a big image or about the construction and maintenance of Expressway, Nagoya University I would like to know what kind of effect will be created by concluding the agreement with.


(Chairman)

I think I can show you specific projects at that time, but first is joint research.
There are various themes. Then it is human resource development. We will study as well, but we would like to provide an opportunity for students to come to our company as an intern, for example. Also, I am still doing it, but I am sending people from our company to teach at university courses. I want to continue that kind of thing. Recently, young students have various ideas. We hope that you can use the ideas of young people in various ways.
That's why it's broad, and without limiting things too much, I think we'll be able to do this while we're doing it, so let's expand it.
Then, in the question I mentioned earlier, I would like to add that in terms of economic efficiency, there is life cycle cost. If you do with the "Hundred Year Road" plan that I talked about earlier, you will take action early and early. Then you can calculate what the overall cost will be 50 years later. It costs a lot of money to repair a road after it has a hole or if it gets bad. However, if you do it early and early, it will result in considerable cost savings. In that way, if you calculate life cycle costs in decades and take action early and early, we say "planned maintenance" or "preventive maintenance", but that power I want to put it in. Regarding the calculation of life cycle cost, I have heard the opinions of experts, and I am in the process of compiling this report with university professors and researchers, and I would like to carry it out.


(Reporter)

Does it mean that you are gradually incorporating new technologies?


(Chairman)

That's right.


(Moderator)

This is the end of the regular press conference. Thank you very much.