EC release 1.5 bln EUR for Bulgarian roads

The European commission has waived the ban on construction of roads under operation programs "Regional development" and "Transport", informed the chairman of the Supervision council of National agency "Road infrastructure" Ivan Atanassov after inspection of the construction on "Lyulin" highway.Yesterday a letter was received from "Regional development" directorate general which points that Bulgaria can open procedures under both operational programs.205 million euro are scheduled for the construction of roads under Functional program "Regional development" and nearly 1 bln euro under OP "Transport", informed the press centre of "Road infrastructure".In the beginning of last year the EC banned the road agency to sign contracts the under the operational programs, after a scandal with the late road chief Vesselin Georgiev who have projects for 60 million euro to companies related to his brothers. Then the money under the pre-accession programs PHARE and ISPA was also suspended. Now, according to the agency chiefs the funds are being released "because of the great progress reported in the work".The first 5 km from Lyulin highway are ready and will be opened by the end of July. The Turkish company implementer "Mapa Chingis" claimes that by the end of the year altogether 12 km will be ready and by the end of 2010 - the whole highway.The deadline for the establishment of the highway is 30 April 2010. Over 148 million euro are needed for the construction. 75% of them are coming from the European program ISPA and 25% from the state budget.