site.btaInfrastructure Development Timelines Must Be Drastically Reduced, Transport Minister Says

Speaking at a roundtable discussion with industry organizations on Thursday, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Grozdan Karadjov said that the timelines for infrastructure development, from the initial concept phase to the start of construction, must be drastically shortened.

The event, titled "The Western Section of the Sofia Ring Road – When…?!?" was organized by the Scientific and Technical Union of Transport, the Federation of Scientific Engineering Unions in Bulgaria, the Union of Architects in Bulgaria, the Bulgarian Branch Chamber Roads, and the Forum for Balkan Transport and Infrastructure.

Karadjov emphasized the need for amendments to the Spatial Development Act. "Together with Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov, I will initiate legislation that will significantly reduce project timelines," he said. He noted that during his tenure as minister of regional development and public works, he was astonished to see projects launched decades ago still failing to reach their construction stage.

According to Karadjov, under the current legal framework, obtaining a building permit takes at least six years after the conceptual phase. The reason is complicated public procurement procedures for design and consultancy, biodiversity regulations and environmental impact assessments, prolonged court proceedings, and land expropriation issues.

"For example, if we decide today to complete the ring road of Kardzhali, we will need to wait for at least six years for the red tape to issue a building permit. The issue must be addressed," he said, adding that such complicated procedures exist only in Bulgaria and Romania, where reforms are already underway.

Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov pointed out that the completion of Sofia’s ring road, as well as the Hemus and Struma motorways, have been among the "victims" of political instability in recent years. He also stressed that administrative and technical hindrances are delaying large-scale projects. Ivanov noted that transport issues are particularly severe in Northern Bulgaria, where economic underdevelopment is directly attributable to the lack of a road infrastructure up to European standards.