In March, we proposed three new investments in the railway sector under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, two of which have been approved. Bulgaria is receiving an additional 517 million leva under the railway projects plan. This was said by the Minister of Transport and Communications and Deputy Prime Minister Grozdan Karadjov at a briefing today.
The first investment is for the supply of specialized high-tech mechanization for monitoring, maintenance and restoration of the railway track and the contact network worth 195 million leva. The project includes the supply of 46 specialized machines of different types. “This technique is extremely important because, in addition to maintaining the railway lines, which are being built for speeds of 160 km/h, it guarantees a reduction in the time for eliminating accidents and greater safety“, emphasized Karadjov. According to him, this will increase the precision and speed of repairs and maintenance of the railway and the contact network.
The second approved project under the PVP includes the rehabilitation of the railway sections Ruse Distribution - Yastrebovo and Visoka Polyana - Pliska, which are part of the Ruse - Kaspichan direction, as well as the renovation of the Hitrino, Pliska, Razgrad and Svoge stations.“Nearly 52 km of railway line and 4 station complexes will be modernized with an investment of 162 million leva. The railway line from Ruse to Kaspichan is the shortest connection for freight traffic between the Black Sea and the Danube River“, the Deputy Prime Minister pointed out and explained that all activities are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“An additional 160 million leva have also been approved for new trains, with the amount for new rolling stock reaching 825 million leva“, Karadjov also said. He stressed that the Recovery and Resilience Plan is not just a financing mechanism, but investments against reforms. “The fact that Bulgaria managed to secure this additional funding is a clear sign of the European Commission's trust and the recognition that our country is fulfilling its commitments in the transport sector“, said Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov.
During the briefing, Grozdan Karadjov announced the results of the comprehensive inspection of the company “MAGDAK“ Ltd., whose truck crashed at a gas station at the entrance to the village of Radomirtsi on May 24. “From the same day, the “Automobile Administration“ Agency began a comprehensive inspection of the transport company, and within 1 month, 13 teams of the agency checked 191 trucks and 299 people“, said Karadjov. He announced that 114 acts were drawn up, and the fines imposed amounted to 96,800 leva. The inspectors also identified 42 drivers from the company who worked without employment contracts and drove motor vehicles. “The data has already been sent to the Main Labor Inspectorate. The envisaged fines vary between 1,500 and 15,000 leva per person“, added Deputy Prime Minister Karadjov.