Ponta said he is hoping the auction to build the Sebes-Campia Turzii section will be organized this year, adding the section will link the northwestern county of Cluj to the Arad-Sibiu highway.
Late Wednesday, Minister-delegate for Infrastructure Projects Dan Sova announced the contract with Bechtel had been terminated and the Romanian Government ought to pay damages of EUR37.2 million and debts of EUR50 million to Bechtel.
Ponta said Tuesday that Sova was wrong to tell the media the contract with Bechtel would be terminated on May 27, arguing the minister should not have said anything until the finalization of negotiations.
The project to build the Transylvania Highway, which links Brasov to Bors, was approved in 2003 and started a year later. The contract winner was Bechtel and the value of the contract was worth EUR2.2 billion. Works should have been finished in 2012 at the latest.
The project was hindered by political disputes and lack of funds from the budget. Bechtel has built only 52 kilometers of the 415-km highway.