site.btaRegional Development Minister Ivanov: BGN 2.25 Bln Road Repair Procurement Set for Four Years

The public procurement for the national road repair works, valued at BGN 2.25 billion without VAT by the Road Infrastructure Agency will cover a period of four years, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov said here on Friday.

Ivanov spoke during a parliamentary hearing, responding to questions from Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria MP Yordan Ivanov and BSP-United Left MP Kiril Dobrev.

The procurement is divided into nine regional lots covering all parts of Bulgaria, including cities in the Northwest, Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, North Central, and South Central regions, plus Sofia.

Each of these lots is valued at BGN 250 million, excluding VAT, which is about BGN 65 million annually, Ivanov explained. He also mentioned that the preparatory work for the public procurement started in January 2023.

Ivanov said that the Road Infrastructure Agency has created multiple technical projects for repair of national road sections, which have used considerable public resources. He added that no repair work was done last year, which, on top of lack of maintenance over the past two years, has caused the deterioration of the national road network.

He said there is no basis to claims about a lack of transparency and objectivity in the public procurement process.

Ivanov explained that the first position has six candidates, the second and third have three each, the fourth has five, the fifth has two, the sixth has four, and the seventh, eighth, and ninth positions each have six candidates.

The procedure permits delayed repair activities to start this year, he noted, adding that there will be strict oversight of the companies chosen as contractors.

Ivanov also said most road-related injuries are due to poor infrastructure.

Chair of the Management Board of the Road Infrastructure Agency, Yordan Valchev also spoke at the National Assembly and said that when the Agency initiated the public procurement procedure, it had assurances that there would be funds in the State budget for this project.

Valchev mentioned that the construction supervision procedure is being prepared, and the announcement for the public procurement is upcoming.