Approximately 45% of the Transport Connectivity Programme 2021-2027 funding is earmarked for investments in Northern Bulgaria. For economic development in the region, the completion of facilities on the Karnobat-Sindel railway line and the construction of the Ruse-Veliko Tarnovo motorway are to be completed. This became clear during the sixth meeting of the Programme Monitoring Committee, which was held in Sofia.
The investment projects are related to the reconstruction and modernisation of port facilities and terminals in Lom, Ruse and Varna, as well as for specialised equipment to improve navigation on the Danube.
In order to maximise the use of the funds, steps have been taken to finance and implement part of the projects under the Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020 Operational Programme with funds from the Transport Connectivity Programme.
Several projects are foreseen in the scope of the amendment. Among them is the purchase and delivery of new rolling stock to operate on the busiest routes in the northern region of the country, with a budget of EUR 80 million. Another project is 'Rehabilitation of the Plovdiv-Burgas railway line, Phase 2, stage 2', which will be implemented with EUR 157 million.
The completion of the construction works of the Europe Motorway, started in the previous programming period, is to be ensured, with the Transport Connectivity Programme funding amounting to EUR 87 million.