JFTC Inspects JR Tokai, Others for Suspected Bid-Rigging

   Tokyo, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)--The Japan Fair Trade Commission conducted on-site inspections Tuesday of six companies, including Central Japan Railway Co., or JR Tokai, for suspected violation of the antimonopoly law over their alleged bid-rigging for railway bridge maintenance work, according to informed sources.
   The companies also include JR Central Consultants Co., Dainichi Consultant Inc., Tonichi Engineering Consultants Inc., Japan Transportation Consultants Inc., and a company in the city of Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture.
   They are suspected of conspiring to decide in advance which company would win contracts for land bridge inspection work on 10 of JR Tokai's lines.
   JR Tokai, which did not participate in the bidding, is believed to have been involved as a coordinator in the case.
   Visual inspections of all bridges and tunnels every five years became mandatory in fiscal 2014, after the road act was revised following a December 2012 accident in which the ceiling of the Sasago Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi Prefecture partially collapsed.

(2024/10/22-16:04)