Construction of Linear Shizuoka construction area postponed by the end of the year Taisei Corporation suspended operations due to bid rigging

JR Tokai has decided not to start construction on the Shizuoka construction section of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen until the end of the year. This is because Taisei Corporation, which is in charge of the construction, was suspended from operations by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism due to a bid-rigging incident surrounding the maglev construction work. JR Tokai will resume talks with Taisei Corporation towards the start of construction from March next year.

Taisei Corporation and Kajima Corporation have been found guilty of violating the Antimonopoly Act for coordinating contractors in advance for the construction of a new linear station. In response to this, the Kanto Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on the 23rd that the two companies had been suspended from business for four months, from November 7th to March 6th of next year, based on the Construction Business Act.

According to JR Tokai, the Shizuoka construction area had a contract with a joint venture (JV) led by Taisei Corporation, and discussions were underway to begin tunnel excavation work. A JR Tokai public relations official explained, ``Due to the suspension of operations, we are unable to proceed with negotiations, and we are unable to begin construction.We hope to resume discussions as soon as the suspension is completed.'' Construction has already begun in the sections other than Shizuoka and will continue to the extent possible.