For the completion of the Southern Arc of the Sofia Ring Road, only 17 million euros are earmarked for design in the 2026 budget. All other words about 1 billion euros are pure manipulation, lies and demagogy on the part of Assen Vassilev and the opposition. This was said in the National Assembly during the discussion of the draft budget for 2026 by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov.
The Minister clarified that the discussed amount of 1 billion euros is an estimate and is for the period 2027-2028, in case it is approved by the parliament. The Minister also added that the Agency “Road Infrastructure“ (API) is based on a preliminary design for completing the route, provided by the Sofia Municipality, and the two structures will work in partnership for the construction of the 8-kilometer section according to the agreement signed last month. “What will be the final and real price of the site, which is the most complex to implement in the country, will become clear after preparing the design and selecting a contractor through a public procurement for the most economically advantageous offer. Therefore, I call on Mr. Vassilev not to manipulate citizens, because we are talking about an estimated value“, the regional minister also emphasized.
He reminded that the section to be built from “Ralevitsa“ Street to the connection with the “Struma“ motorway, will pass through a densely populated area, a narrow road and complex engineering solutions will be required for the implementation of the project. It is planned to build a tunnel and an overpass in the section of the “Buxton“ district to the “Ovcha Kupel“ district. The route will cross several rivers and require a complex crossing of a dam wall. It will also pass over several boulevards, to which the necessary road connections must be built, in accordance with the increasing traffic.
Complex facilities such as tunnels and overpasses form a high estimated value for the implementation of the project. In addition to the large facilities, the project for completing the ring road envisages the construction of four more smaller facilities, as well as the necessary road infrastructure, which will provide access to the future National Children's Hospital. “You understand how complex this is,“ said Minister Ivanov and advised those dissatisfied to inquire about the cost of 1 km of asphalt road with the necessary complex of accompanying activities. “If you are making all these statements because you are trying to stop Sofia residents and guests of the capital from having normal infrastructure, from not having access to the children's hospital — I understand it, but I don't understand you suddenly entering the field of populism. Demagogy and hatred have become your language“, the regional minister turned to Assen Vassilev and called on him to indicate in which paragraph of the budget for next year 2 billion leva are provided for the ring road.
Minister Ivan Ivanov also pointed out that the budget of the MRDPW for 2026 is much more than the budgets of previous governments. “The budget framework that we are proposing is largely dictated by delays and investments in infrastructure that have not happened in years, especially in the last 4 years. Everything that we are betting on has been transferred from Mr. Vassilev's budget — 0 objects have been completed there and now we are proposing them for completion“, the minister also noted.
Because of this, the government has much less opportunity to follow its own vision. “We have to pay for a number of projects that were assigned, indexed according to a methodology approved by the PP-DB government, but unpaid. Project values were also set at prices much lower than the real value and now we are paying because the state has been condemned – this year we paid 200 million leva, and next year we will pay 120 million euros. This is money for compensation and indexation for activities carried out by the builders as a commitment, but unpaid during the PP. Separately, we also have old debts of 2 billion leva“, said Minister Ivanov.
He noted that despite the heavy legacy this year, the government has managed to rehabilitate 150 km of highways and hundreds of kilometers of roads. New sections of highways have also been launched, because people deserve it and this is the government's goal. "Everyone knows that any delay in construction comes back as a more expensive and difficult commitment," said the regional minister and reminded that if the money for the "Hemus" motorway had been spent on time, no more money would be given for indexation now.
“At the beginning of the mandate, there was a cruel tragedy that brought the entire country to its feet. The cause of this catastrophe was the lack of quality road maintenance, the lack of restrictive systems, markings, and the state was accused of being one of the reasons. This is an inherited commitment. My will is to have normal roads, which are an obligation of the state, not a luxury for citizens“, he noted, recalling why the government is allocating funds for road repairs in the budget.