BRATISLAVA, December 14, (WEBNOVINY)- The third public-private partnership (PPP) D1 highway package for construction of the highway section between Hricovske Podhradie and Dubna Skala has been scrapped. The Coalition Council decided on Monday evening that the construction of the Visnove tunnel will be kicked off in 2011 and will be financed both from EU funds and state coffers. Construction of other sections of the highway in the area of Zilina will start within two years. Transport Minister Jan Figel informed after the Coalition Council’s sitting that the tunnel should be completed in 2016. The method of funding further highway stretches within the package is open yet; they will be built either through PPP projects or a re-tender will be announced for their construction. Figel believes that Euro-funds is the cheapest source for building highways.
Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said that the obligation to repay PPP projects for 30 years is inappropriate while Slovakia would not be able to afford further PPP projects. “Therefore we were seeking a solution. The tunnel, which is most expensive will be built for the cheapest money; the Euro-funds and the state budget while the rest of the highway will be financed through PPP projects,“ she said. According to the prime minister this soluition should be cheaper by EUR 3 billion. A new tender will be announced for this construction, she specified.
Transport Minister Jan Figel has already submitted the PPP package for construction of the Zilina highway to the Cabinet for approval but the SaS party required that first the Coalition Council deals with the projectst. It has already discussed the problem but it failed to take a stance.
SITA