Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov said Monday that Bulgarians “will get motorways once we design them and find outside investors,” speaking at a meeting with mayors and representatives of local institutions in Haskovo Region.
The meeting was held as part of the ministry’s national “Regions Speak” initiative, which focused on regional development, infrastructure and water supply.
Shishkov said that Haskovo Region faces a serious demographic problem and that solutions should be sought to improve the quality of life in its towns and villages. He said each region has its own specific problems that need to be discussed and addressed through short-, medium- and long-term measures.
He added that the central government has conducted its own analysis and that comparing it with the analyses of local authorities could speed up the implementation of concrete measures.
Shishkov also said that the launch of comprehensive design work for the Ruse-Makaza motorway had already been organized.
“Our idea is to reach the stage of a detailed development plan and an environmental impact assessment for the entire motorway within a year and a half,” he said.
He described it as Bulgaria’s most important north-south corridor.
The Minister added that the fact that the state currently lacks funds for road infrastructure does not mean that Bulgaria’s residents should have to “live in primitive conditions.”
“Bulgarians will get motorways once we design them, find outside investors, and conclude public-private partnership and concession agreements. This is something that should have been done 15 years ago,” Shishkov said.
Asked about the need for emergency replacement of damaged road guardrails, Shishkov said that the process had already begun five days earlier.
He added that an analysis was currently being conducted of the regulation governing the conditions and procedures for the use of road restraint systems and the requirements applicable to them, in order to determine whether there was lobbying involved in the awarding of such contracts.
Shishkov said he expected the Road Infrastructure Agency to provide a full analysis of problematic locations and that he would ask the agency to publish on its website a programme for the replacement of road infrastructure, which would also facilitate monitoring.
On water infrastructure and water quality, Shishkov said additional funding would be provided for all water and sewerage projects. Where there is a construction permit, the necessary additional funding will also be provided to the water and sewerage companies, he said.
The Minister also announced that checks of public procurement procedures for construction projects would begin. The State would exercise its oversight role wherever public funds were being spent, regardless of whether they came from the national budget or European funding, Shishkov said.
Regional Development Minister: “Bulgarians Will Get Motorways Once We Design Them and Find Outside Investors” THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-28 10:20:00
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