site.btaSofia's Second Biggest Railway Station Renovated in 2.3 Million Leva Project

May 2 (BTA) - A ceremony marking the start of a 2.3
million leva project for the renovation of Sofia's second
biggest railway station, the Podouene Station, took place on
Thursday. The station, completed in 1930, will be thoroughly
overhauled in the 15-month project but the building's original
appearance will be preserved. The implementation of the project
is co-financed by the Transport and Transport Infrastructure
Operational Programme.

Transport, IT and Communications Minister Rossen Zhelyazkov said
 at the ceremony that the Poduoene Station has had only partial
repair works. When the current renovation is completed, the
building will stand out with its architecture and provide
state-of-the-art comfort for passengers, Zhelyazkov said.

The station will not close during the overhaul, he said.

The Minister also said that the renovation and modernization of
the railway infrastructure in Bulgaria is part of an overall
European process. Zhelyazkov said that in ten to 15 years' time,
 railway transport will again become a key mode of transport in
this country, because it is affordable, convenient and
environmental friendly. The Minister said that this year 14
railway station hubs, 14 stations and six stops will be
modernized.

Two new stations, Kostenets and Obelya, both near Sofia, start
to be built in May. The Obelya Station will be a hub servicing
railway, the Sofia underground and road transport.

* * *

Approached by a reporter, Zhelyazkov said that on a demand by
Romania, the project for a third Danubian bridge between the two
 countries is expected to be launched shortly. He said that the
Romanian government has already passed a decision on the matter.
 Zhelyazkov said that if the project design for the new bridge,
which is planned to be between Svishtov in Bulgaria and Zimnicea
 in Romania, is ready by the end of 2019, the "project will be
realized within a year or two". He said that the other two
locations where Bulgaria wants the bridge - Silistra and Rousse,
 will be discussed. IG/ZH

/СН/