Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The new Operational Program “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” 2014-2020 has been approved at a national level, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski at the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the program. He also said that the Council of ministers has approved the draft and it is to be sent to the EC.

During the meeting the rules of procedure of the Committee were adopted and the priority projects by 2020 were discussed. About 673 million Euros are to be allocated to road and rail projects. The project for the extension of the subway will be allocated 400 million Euros and some additional 25 million Euro will be spent for intermodal terminals. A separate priority axis with a budget of over 77 million Euros will be created to fund the development of traffic management systems and improve safety and security in transport modes.

A parallel meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Operational Program "Transport" 2007 – 2013 was also held where the beneficiaries reported the progress of the implemented projects. National Railway Infrastructure Company is working on three major infrastructure projects along the lines Septemvri- Plovdiv, Plovdiv-Burgas and Dimitrovgrad-Svilengrad. "I have personally inspected the work on the railway line Plovdiv-Burgas", said Ivaylo Moskovski. In his words there are serious delays in Lot 3 of the project - Tzerkovsky- Karnobat. 74% of the physical implementation has been completed and some 115 km of railway tracks have been laid, but the contractor does not seem ready to complete it. Daily monitoring and a new construction schedule were introduced taking into account the force majeure this summer. "We have already had a meeting with the contractor and there will be a second one and I hope in the coming months they will show the necessary mobilization to complete the project”, said Minister Moskovski. The other Lot of the modernization project of the line Plovdiv-Burgas in the section Stara Zagora - Zimnitza has about 91% physical implementation, as 109 kilometers of new railroad were laid.

The other NRIC sites are also moving at a good pace. The main issues along the railroad Dimitrovgrad-Svilengrad are the expropriation procedures, which are largely caused by the current legislation. "I hope to adopt as soon as possible the necessary legal amendments in order to solve the problems not only for this project but also for the rest", said Ivaylo Moskovski. The first Lot Dimitrovgrad - Harmanli has been completed at about 70%. The largest railway station along the line – Dimitrovgrad, is thouroughly completed. The physical implementation of Lot 2 Harmanli - Svilengrad is 57%.

The construction along the line Septemvri – Plovdiv started the latest, which is why the implementation of the three sites within its scope is the least. Lot 1 Septemvri - Pazardzhik is at 28%, Lot 2 Pazardzhik - Stambolijski at 17% and Lot 3 Stambolijski - Plovdiv at about 34%. The project for modernization of Sofia Central Station is progressing at a good pace, as ¼ of activities have already been completed.

In the road sector we have been identified as high-risk projects Lot 1 of "Maritza" Highway and Lot 4 of "Struma" Highway. "Together with our colleagues from the Ministry of Regional Development we have inspected the construction of Maritza Highway". I am familiar with the negotiations for the completion of Lot 4 of "Struma" highway. Overall I can say that there is a risk for both projects, but it is manageable and provided the contractors and all the institutions involved are mobilized, there is no reason not to complete it by the end of 2015", said Minister Moskovski.

The Metropolitan continues to be one of the most successful projects. There are two stages in progress. The section from the Blvd. "Tsarigradsko Shosse" to Sofia Airport is completed at 82%, and the section from Mladost 1 to the Business Park in Mladost 4 – at about 70%.

"All the results presented today are the fruit of work in the last 5-6 years. Fortunately, the largest part of the team was retained during this period and this is the basis for best results. I thank them for that, but we need to make greater efforts to complete the objectives of the program. We must not forget that about 33% of the program budget is to be absorbed by the end of 2015", concluded Minister Ivaylo Moskovski.

The meetings were attended by representatives of local and executive authorities, beneficiaries, NGOs, trade unions, and experts from the European Commission.