site.bta Regional Development Minister Shishkov: Construction of Motorway and Tunnel under Petrohan Pass Should Be Awarded under Concession

Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov said Tuesday in Montana that he proposed that the construction of the Sofia-Montana highway with a tunnel under the Petrohan Pass in the Balkan mountain should be awarded under concession. 

He explained that this is a very expensive project for which the State will not be able to allocate money, and that is why launching a concession procedure to implement it may be a good solution. "So far, many years have passed in which politicians talked about a tunnel, but one has not been built and the project has been turned into another construction illusion," commented Minister Shishkov. He stated that he personally came with his team to the Montana region to propose the possibility of a concession to the local people, who will benefit the most if such an expressway is built and the Sofia-Montana road distance is shortened by about 80 kilometres.

"I know that this proposal is different and even revolutionary, but in my opinion it is the only solution to have a motorway and a tunnel under the Petrohan Pass. So far there has only been talk without results, and we are proposing an economic solution because the region cannot wait any longer", the Minister said. He added that the State is currently doing everything possible to quickly complete the environmental impact procedures for the project, and once this is done, the politicians must decide whether the construction of this road can be awarded under a concession.