News
A consortium of Skoda Transportation and Skoda Wagon has been selected as the contractor for the supply of 20 single-deck electric multiple unit trains, with a capacity of at least 300 seats, maintenance for a period of 15 years and staff training. The decision of the committee for the selection of the contractor was signed today by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov.
The consortium offers a price of BGN 511.4 million and a delivery period of 24 months.
All the railway projects started have similar problems and they are related to poor planning as well as extremely cumbersome administrative procedures before the start of construction. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during an inspection of railway sections of the Elin Pelin - Kostenets project under construction. The Minister inspected all three lots of the project on site.
The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov handed over the keys of the first 50 new control vehicles to the Road Administration Agency. The remaining 30 vehicles will be equipped in a few weeks.
"With the new 80 vehicles we are completely renewing the fleet of the Road Administration Agency. This will improve the efficiency of the Agency's control activities and increase road safety," said Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov.
On the initiative of the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov a meeting was held between more than 10 institutions related to the problems of the transport industry.
Stoyan Stoyanov is the new Director General of the National Railway Infrastructure Company. He has been appointed from today by order of the Minister of Transport and Communications pending a competition. By law, the Director General is also a member of the Board of Directors of the NCWA.
From today a working group has been formed in the Automobile Administration Agency to prepare changes in the rules for annual technical inspections of cars. We will propose to increase from 14 to 30 days the time limit for rectification of "significant deficiencies" found during technical inspections. This was said by Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov during a visit to one of the Sofia checkpoints earlier today.
The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov asked for the resignations of the Director General and the Chairman of the Board of National Railway Infrastructure Company. The reason is the low safety control and the increased number of accidents on the railway infrastructure. The last case was yesterday in the section Mirkovo - Dolno Kamartsi, where 5 wagons went off the tracks. Initial information indicates that it is a matter of poor condition of the railway infrastructure. An investigation is pending to determine the causes.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications is accepting proposals until 31 August 2024 for stamp themes to be issued in 2025. The assessment, before inclusion in the thematic plan, will be carried out according to the new criteria approved at the beginning of 2024.
The Polish company Pojazdy Szynowe PESA Bydgoszcz SA will be selected as the contractor for the delivery of 35 multiple unit trains under the Public Procurement Act. "Stadler Polska Sp. Z.o.o., ranked first, withdrew from the procedure and requested the termination of the contract for the delivery of 7 double-decker trains financed with Recovery and Sustainability Plan funds.
The Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov discussed with representatives of the industry the proposed changes to Ordinance No 37 and Ordinance No 38, regulating the conditions and procedure for the training and examination of candidates for the acquisition of driving licence.
In less than 24 hours the process of installing a permanent mobile cell in the area of the village of Voden and since last night it is in operation. At the order of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov held an urgent meeting with mobile operators to solve the problem of lack of mobile coverage.
Assistance was also provided by the Ministry of the Interior and DG Border Police so that the equipment could be deployed in the border area, which is not possible without their permission.
Mobile operators are taking urgent steps to improve the state of communications in the village of Voden and several neighbouring villages. The aim is to provide better mobile network coverage for the population by deploying additional equipment in the area. These measures were discussed today during a meeting convened on the initiative of Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev and Transport and Communications Minister Georgi Gvozdeykov.
As of Monday, 22 July 2024, the activity of the technical inspection stations that have not ensured the connectivity of the measuring devices (gas analyser, smoke meter and brake stand) with the system of the Executive Agency ‘Road Transport Administration’ (IAAA) will be suspended. So far, 964 sites are already transmitting data automatically, 8 are partially connected and 96 are still not connected.
The exchange of BGN into EUR will be carried out in 2230 stations of ‘Bulgarian Posts’ in settlements where there are no banks. The Government has entrusted ‘Bulgarian Posts’ EAD to carry out a service of general economic interest — exchange of banknotes and coins from BGN into EUR for a period of 6 months from the date of our accession to the Eurozone.
In this context, the company is currently developing a training plan for about 2,500 employees who will undergo special training. Procurement of counters, CCTV cameras and other equipment is also being prepared.
A network of car parks in the country, FAST Danube 2 and two railway projects are the approved investments under the programme
The European Commission has approved four Bulgarian projects under the Connecting Europe Facility 2021—2027. This became clear during the regular meeting of the CEF Committee held in Brussels. Their total value is almost EUR 169 million, of which just over EUR 143 million is Cohesion Package funding.
The Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” (EAME) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) successfully completed the joint oil spill response exercise "Burgas 2024". During the event, held in the period 11-12 July in Burgas, were presented real situations of liquidation of major oil pollution by the forces and means provided in the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
Joint action to stop access of overloaded trucks to ports on the Danube and the Black Sea. This was discussed at a meeting of the Deputy Ministers of Transport and Communications Anna Natova and Dimitar Nedyalkov with representatives of the state and private port operators in the country. The aim of the measures is to improve road safety and protect transport infrastructure, said Deputy Minister Anna Natova.
The two helicopters provide coverage to about 90% of the country
The second medical helicopter will be positioned at a temporary operating base at Burshen Airport. The planned range of the machine is 170 km and in November the two helicopters will cover about 90% of the country. This was announced today by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov, who today together with the Mayor of Sliven Stefan Radev launched the renovation works at the base.
The company begins to stop inefficient activities
The European Commission has approved the Restructuring Plan of Bulgarian Post EAD. The preparation of the document and its approval by the EC was a condition for the postal operator to receive urgent financial support in the amount of BGN 50 million.
Bulgaria is fully ready for the resumption of the Ruse-Giurgiu ferry line. The project is of key importance for easing the traffic between Bulgaria and Romania, given the upcoming renovation works on the Danube Bridge. This was stated by the Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeykov during a meeting with the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Violeta Koritarova and the Ambassador of Romania in Sofia H.E. Brundus Predescu.