site.btaFour Projects Worth EUR 207 Mln Submitted for Approval under Connecting Europe Facility

Four Projects Worth EUR 207 Mln Submitted for Approval under Connecting Europe Facility

Sofia, February 8 (BTA) - Four project proposals have been submitted after the third notice of invitation to tender under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Two projects were sent by the Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority, one was submitted by the Road Infrastructure Agency and one by the National Railway Infrastructure Company. Their total investment value is 207 million euro and the requested European funding amounts to 85 per cent, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications said Wednesday.

The National Railway Infrastructure Company has submitted a project for the development of Plovdiv railway juncture which includes rehabilitation and upgrading of railway infrastructure in the sections Plovdiv- Plovdiv yard - Kroumovo and Plovdiv yard - Skoutare. The project also provides for a road to be developed passing under Plovdiv Station, development of the tracks at the stations included in the project, removal of existing crossings and their replacement with overpasses. The total value of the project proposal is 115 million euro, with European funding amounting to 98 million euro.

In the road sector, one project has been submitted for the development of a section of Kalotina - Sofia Ring Road motorway. The project is worth a total of 90 million euro and the requested European co-funding slightly exceeds 40 million euro. The project proposal includes the development of 15 km of the motorway from Kalotina border checkpoint to Dragoman. The existing route will be widened and corrected at places to allow a speed of 100 km/h. The project provides for two lanes on each side of the road and an emergency lane.

Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority has submitted two projects related to streamlining air traffic services. Their total value is about 1.2 million euro and requested European co-funding is about 1.0 million euro. The first project is aimed to create a local information security operational centre to provide effective protection against cyber attacks. Its development will guarantee security of data and infrastructure of the air traffic authority, as well as 24/7 regime of provided services. The second project proposal is aimed to introduce air space for free flight over the countries participating in the Gate One regional initiative.

This is the third notice for tenders in the transport sector of CEF that guarantee the country a budget under the Cohesion Package amounting to 406 million euro. Seven transport projects worth 294 million euro have been approved. The free resources at the disposal of Bulgaria is 111 million euro. The results of the evaluation of the projects will be announced in the middle of this year.