In its 2013-2016 governing program presented Thursday, the new Cabinet, which has yet to be endorsed by the Parliament, pledged to finish the construction of the Nadlac – Arad – Bucharest highway, the Brasov – Predeal – Comarnic highway section and the highway linking Bucharest to Ploiesti-Bacau and Pascani.
The new Government also aims to start new highway projects: one to link Targu Mures (NC) to Ungheni (E) and another to link Bucharest to Timisoara (W).
Ten years after the Transilvania Highway project was approved, only 52 kilometers of the 415-km highway were finished by October, and the project currently has no fixed date for completion. In 2010, only 10 kilometers were inaugurated.
For the 52 kilometers, the state allotted 5.6 billion lei (EUR1.2 billion), more than half of the funds needed for the entire project.
The Transilvania highway, which links Brasov to Bors, was approved in 2003 and started in 2004, based on a EUR2.2 billion contract signed with U. S. company Bechtel.
Romania will continue a program to upgrade bridges and passageways, will build 50 by-pass roads and will upgrade 75% of its national road infrastructure by 2016, according to the governing program.
Regarding railway infrastructure, 60% of the 15,000 kilometers of public railroad will be upgraded to meet European standards, while the remainder will be rented or closed.
Romania’s ruling Social Liberal Union won around 60% of the seats in Parliament in elections on December 9. The list of minister nominees has been sent to Parliament Thursday and lawmakers are expected to assemble for a confidence vote on the new Cabinet soon. (EUR1=RON4.4762)