By the end of March will be initiated tender procedures for three major railway projects which to be implemented with European funding, stated caretaker Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Hristo Alexiev during the presentation of the team and the main priorities and tasks. He pointed out that these are the projects on the modernization of the railway sections Elin Pelin - Kostenets, Kostenets - Septemvri and Sofia - Voluyak, which is part of the railway line Sofia - Dragoman. Their total value is about 700 mln. Euro.
We will work in two main directions - completion of the projects from the previous programming period and starting of new projects to avoid delays of predefined timetables. By the end of next month should be submitted all reports by the beneficiaries on the completion of the projects under OP on "Transport" 2007 – 2013.
One of the unfulfilled conditions under the Partnership Agreement with the EC is related to the "Transport" sector, said Hristo Alexiev. Our country still does not have an adopted integrated transport strategy with horizon by 2030. The colleagues from the Ministry are currently working on the elaboration of the document and by the end of March is yet to be adopted the environmental assessment, said Alexiev. Then the document will be sent for approval by the Council of Ministers.
Another project that needs to be speeded is Lot 3.2 of the "Struma" Motorway through the Kresna Gorge. We have to undertake actual actions regarding this project very quickly, because otherwise there is a real risk of losing EU funding.
Minister Alexiev said that “BDZ” is in a critical condition and in 2016 the company's management has not taken any measures to deal with the situation. In 2017 “BDZ - Passenger Services“ is unable to fulfill its commitments to customers and to the state. Estimations show that only in 2016 the company has spent 1 million BGN for the transfer of passengers by buses due to lack of locomotives, said Alexiev. I do not want the concession of Sofia Airport and the rehabilitation of “BDZ” to be considered in parallel. The resources from the realization of the concession procedure go to the state budget and if the “BDZ” do not provide a clear plan for development of the national railway operator, these funds can not be allocated to it. The Minister added that will be explored opportunities for short-term refinancing of the obligations of “BDZ”.
I ordered the termination of the Framework Agreement of the "National Railway Infrastructure Company" on the repair and rehabilitation of rail infrastructure", said Alexiev. In his words, there should be initiated tender procedures for sake of equality between all companies and more competition in the selection, which would lead to better price and quality. In case of emergency repairs, will be observed the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.
In terms of the concession of Sofia Airport, the Minister said that he plans to hold a wider debate with all stakeholders before deciding how to develop the airport. For Plovdiv Airport the concession is a good option and there we will work for conclusion of the concession procedure.
Within two months should be elaborated a program on the development of the Bulgarian ports, said Minister Alexiev. Second priority in the water sector is to improve the interaction between the state company that manages the infrastructure and the port operators, as well as a clear allocation of responsibilities and commitments between them. Alexiev said that Bulgaria has taken a commitment to the European Commission for dredging in the Danube River and by the end of February will be launched a tender procedure regarding this activity.
