BRATISLAVA, January 22, (WEBNOVINY) — Opposition SMER-SD leader Robert Fico does not believe that there won’t be any supplements to highway construction contracts that will ultimately increase the price of roads. It is evident that supplements must be sealed to every single underpriced state order awarded by this government because companies are not able to complete construction at the tendered prices, Fico argued. In a program on air of TA3 news channel, the former prime minister mentioned the Sitina tunnel project to illustrate the reality. The contract for the tunnel, which was not built during his rule, had many supplements. In his words, the builder asked Fico’s Cabinet to pay an additional EUR 20 million for the works but the request was rejected because the extra works were not ordered. “[Party] chairman, Mr. Figel, came and instantly paid 20 million to Skanska in an out-of-court settlement,” Fico announced. He does not believe that the outgoing Cabinet will save the declared EUR 700 million on highway construction because it is impossible in terms of real prices, or another scenario is that the roads will be of such a poor quality that they will have to me reconstructed after five years.
KDH leader, Minister of Transport Jan Figel argued that the initial price had been set based on state expertise. “It is not supposed to be exceeded,” the minister countered. It is good for the state that the competition for these projects is broad and involves many candidates.
SITA