site.btaKyustendil Mayor Calls Urgent Meeting to Discuss Halted Rail Projects, Part of Corridor VIII

The Mayor of Kyustendil, Ognyan Atanasov, announced Friday he has called an urgent meeting with local MPs, the regional governor, and municipal councillors to discuss the consequences of a Government decision that halts two railway projects – Sofia–Pernik and Pernik–Radomir – which are part of the international Corridor 8.

The meeting will discuss measures and an action plan regarding the suspended projects. "We need to ask whether the design work is continuing, when construction permits are expected, and where the funding will come from under these circumstances," Atanasov said. He also questioned whether the already approved road corridor would take precedence if the railway project were stopped. "This corridor has not been completed in over 130 years for a variety of reasons, and we are still sidelined," he added.

Atanasov emphasized the need for a unified position and urged the stakeholders to seek answers to the questions raised. He also insisted that work on the design and construction permits should continue, and alternative funding sources should be explored. He announced that after the meeting in Kyustendil, he would seek opportunities to have discussions with Pernik regional government and municipalities in the area.