Major activities related to road infrastructure to connect with Bulgaria are underway and by mid-2023 we will have a partially expanded and completely renewed road connection.
The construction of first two sections for railway connection, investment worth EUR 200 million, will kick off in the spring. An additional meeting will be agreed next week to consider the possibility of launching air link between Skopje and Sofia, Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski said in an interview with BNT.
In the interview, Bochvarski noted that Skopje – Sofia airline route would be operated by a private airline or private airlines without subsidies or assistance from governments. “We want the airlines to estimate the route profitability and therefore we are open for discussion, to include travel agencies, all stakeholders, chambers of commerce, companies that have some opportunity for cooperation between the two countries to find profitability in this route, or other routes including Tirana, Sofia, Skopje and Athens that will give an additional opportunity to the citizens, to the business companies by using the routes,” Bochvarski said.
Bochvarski said in the interview that they had excellent meetings in Sofia, were focused on road infrastructure projects connecting the two countries as well as railway infrastructure and launching air link. “We are already working on the construction of a new expressway on a section between Rankovce and Kriva Palanka, and we expect to be completed by mid-2023. The road connection from Kumanovo to the border with Bulgaria is being rehabilitated. Also, the road section from Kriva Palanka to the border crossing Deve Bair with Bulgaria will be fully expanded, rehabilitated with a third lane in this mountain pass, which means that major activities related to road infrastructure to connect with Bulgaria are underway,” Bochvarski said.
Regarding the railway connection between Sofia and Skopje, Bochvarski said that the construction of first two sections for railway connection, investment worth EUR 200 million, will kick off in the spring, whereas the construction of the third and last section will begin in 2023.
“It is the last and most difficult section between North Macedonia and Bulgaria which include large number of tunnels, bridges that need to be built and that is another step for which today we signed a memorandum of cooperation where both countries with all experts will be included and will work together on the construction of this railway,” Bochvarski said. According to Bochvarski, improving road connectivity between the two countries means development of the economy, development of the business sector, connection of companies and connecting the people on both sides of the border.
“During the talks we also discussed the Klepalo border crossing near Berovo, which is important for connecting the people. Bulgarian side should take series of steps aimed at connecting and opening another border crossing between the two countries,” Bochvarski said. Bochvarski also noted that the Corridor 8 is strategically important for the whole region and for Europe, as it connects the East – West axis from Durres (Albania) through Struga – Ohrid – Skopje, to Bulgaria and the Black Sea.
“It is a very important axis and therefore we should do our best, it is our task as ministries of transport and communications of the two countries, of course Albania as well, so that we can start building and completing this axis as soon as possible. We also signed a Memorandum together with the three countries, but now we need to concretize and enter into resolving all key points so that this process moves faster. We are working on providing all necessary financial means,” Bochvarski said in the interview.
Source: MIA
