Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

We will do everything possible to complete the work on the overpass in Dimitrovgrad by the end of October 2014 to ease the traffic in the city. The Caretaker Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, Nikolina Angelkova, required the preparation of a revised work program for faster completion. This happened during the inspection of the project for modernization of the railway line Parvomai - Svilengrad. She ascertained that half of the project activities have been completed.

"Among the problems of the project are the delayed building permits for some of the sites. I have already held a meeting with colleagues from the Ministry of Regional Development and permits will be issued in short notice", said Minister Nikolina Angelkova. She said there is no danger of losing funds under the Operational Programme "Transport" by the end of 2014, but the efforts should be accelerated in order of full completion of the project by end of 2015.

In response to a journalist's question Minister Nikolina Angelkova said that the main priority is to continue the negotiations with the creditors of the BDZ and the receipt of notification from the European Commission for state aid to the company.

Minister Angelkova inspect the activities of the largest train station of Dimitrovgrad included in the project scope Parvomai – Svilengrad. There is an ongoing repair of the entrance building and the construction of pedestrian overpasses. The station is divided into two construction phases - northern and southern. The first phase is 80% completed with three tracks already in operation. Expected early next year, the station will be fully operational. The site is part of Dimitrovgrad Position 1 - Harmanli, the construction of which is estimated at over 142 million lev without VAT (10% contingencies). The physical implementation is estimated at around 60%. Approximately 3.5 km railway line has been built and operating between Dimitrovgrad and Station Nova Nadejda and by the end of the year another 10 kilometers will be completed.

At Position 2 Harmanli – Svilengrad, an examination of the new track and contact line at the railway bridges over Maritsa River was carried out. The contract for the construction is over 122 million lev without VAT (10% contingencies) and the overall physical implementation is about 45%.

The third position comprises of the construction of traction substations in Simeonovgrad and Svilengrad and expansion of existing ones in Dimitrovgrad. Minister Nikolina Amglekova inspected the construction activities, stressing that the contractor must make every effort to expedite the work.

The project should be completed by the end of 2015, making it one of the high implementation risk projects of the OP "Transport". Minister Anglekova was briefed on the problems and organization of the work of the contractor in the first days after taking office.