Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeikov requested the resignations of the general director Maria Genova and the chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Railway Infrastructure Company ; Emilia Nikova. This is clear from a message from the Ministry of Transport. Genova took office in October 2023, and Nikova at the end of April this year.
We remind you that Emilia Nikova became the chairman of the Board of Directors of the State Railway Infrastructure National Company. (NCRI) on May 9 this year. She replaced Kamen Dikov, who remained in the post for 7 months. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is the principal of NKRI. The order of the Minister of Transport for the rollover in the state-owned company is from April 25, but the entry took place on the first working day after the holidays - May 7. This was yet another decision in the board of directors of NKŽI, and all appointments are with the clarification - "until a competition is held". Maria Genova is the general director and participates in the board of directors of NKŽI since October 2023.
Why dates and months are important
In the editorial office of FAKTI, we received a signal, which describes in detail how the company was left “hanging“ about fire protection.
Now Minister Gvozdeikov is asking for resignations because another road accident happened. It is about the Mirkovo section – Dolno Kamartsi, where 5 wagons derailed. Initial information indicates that it is a question of the poor condition of the railway infrastructure. An investigation is pending to determine the reasons.
"The current management of NKŽI has repeatedly shown that it cannot effectively manage the processes in one of the largest state-owned companies in Bulgaria," said Minister Gvozdeikov. According to him, the situation in Mirkovo once again proves that there is a problem with the management of the safety systems of railway transport.
"In addition to the director and the chairman of the board, the employees who are involved in the operation of the railway and its condition must bear responsibility,", the Minister of Transport also said. The thing with the rails is one thing. Just to remind you that in July a wagon from the composition Sofia – Varna derailed near Svoge, and passengers had to change trains.
What happened in March
DP NKŽI is the largest state company in Bulgaria, and the railway infrastructure is also of strategic importance, directly related to the country's national security. There are many cases of accidents and incidents that have happened over the years, and in reality such should never be allowed. Even more so when it comes to the organization of fire safety.
But what happened in the month of March this year. It is about the time between two contracts. And it so happens that NKŽI remains without technical maintenance and technical control of the condition and serviceability of all fire extinguishers and systems in the enterprise for almost a month. Why? Due to the expired deadline of 02.03.2024. of contract No. (0000)/02.03.2021 (no. - in the editorial we have the number of the contract) between DP NKŽI and a given company. (p.b. - we deliberately do not mention the name of the company, because the case was “pending“, as you will understand, only a month, and to date another company takes care of the fire safety of NKŽI).
In February of this year, one month before the expiration of the contract in question, the contractor company did not check the fire safety equipment in many areas of the railway infrastructure. And it turns out that there are also those with expired technical validity. This happens before the expiration of the contract, which is for 36 months.
Are we talking about expired maintenance and maintenance of all fire extinguishers!?
After the expiration of Contract No. (0000)/02.03.2021 on 02.03.2024, a public procurement was held, which was won by another company. The assignment is made with the Performance Contract No. (0000)/28.03.2024. From March 2 to 28 – this is the time when there were fire extinguishers that were not controlled and tested, and perhaps expired. Another thing is interesting. The public procurement was held on March 2, and the award contract is dated March 28? 26 days what happens and who is responsible?
But this is only a small link in the chain of what is happening at NKRI, given the fact that the minister is now asking for resignations.