All governments in the region remain committed to the construction and rehabilitation of the railway corridors, said Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski ahead of the first meeting of the Network of Infrastructure Managers in the Western Balkans, organized by the Transport Community Secretariat in Skopje on Wednesday, news agency MIA reported.
At the meeting, heads of the regional railway infrastructure enterprises focus on networking and future plans in the field of railway infrastructure.
“I believe this is a very important year, especially for the Republic of North Macedonia but also for the region, because we are fully committed to starting the construction of the Corridor VIII eastern section, an investment worth about EUR 200 million. This is significant for networking, transport efficiency, opening of new opportunities between Macedonia and Bulgaria but also the region,” said Minister Bochvarski.
He said these big projects need time for planning and construction.
“Nevertheless, I am pleased that all regional governments remain committed to the construction and rehabilitation of railway corridors,” noted Bochvarski. According to him, there is readiness for construction of the corridors despite the ongoing health and energy crises.
“We are actively working on all procedures despite the health and energy crises. Today’s conference is the answer to the question regarding our commitment. We are ready to build 36 tunnels and over 80 bridges within the railway leading to Bulgaria, because this is an investment in the future of the region and networking with our neighbors. The Corridor VIII eastern and the western section (leading to Albania) are worth over EUR 1,1 billion and we are prepared to do this in parallel with the rehabilitation of the existing railway sections. Bulgaria and Albania also have work to do in order to link up with our country,” said Bochvarski.
Construction works on the first two sections of the railroad leading to Bulgaria are expected to start in spring and be completed within three years, whereas the deadline for the third section is four years.
“We expect its construction to start in 2023, whereas the eastern and western sections in Bulgaria, Albania and North Macedonia are set to be completed by 2030, in line with the memorandum that the countries’ transport ministers signed in Sofia by the end of 2021,” said Bochvarski.
