Romanian MPs Validate Nomination Of New Transport Min

Berceanu said during the parliamentary hearings he wants to reorganize in the first months of his mandate the National Company for National Roads and Highways, by dividing it in one company for highways and one for national roads, and to amend the legislation for auctions and appeals until March 1, 2009.

He presented the governing agenda for 2009-2012, which stipulates the construction of 836 kilometers of highway, the rehabilitation of 5,000 kilometers of national road and the inauguration of the first 54 kilometers of the Transylvania Highway in 2009. The minister plans to set up the National Airport Company Bucharest and the National Airport Company Banat.

According to him, the country needs EUR22 billion between 2009 and 2012 to build highways, of which EUR2 billion might be funded by loans from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and EUR1.6 billion by the European Union. Projects worth EUR5 billion might be carried out by lease.

Berceanu said he will make the proposal to American company Bechtel to build Transylvania Highway only up to Targu Mures, central Romania, and leave the construction of the rest of the sectors be put for auction.

“The proposal for Bechtel is to have them build the highway up to Targu Mures and to give up the rest, in order to do a good job, so that we put up for auction the other segments. And if they want to work in Romania, they can participate in auctions for other projects, as we have many auctions to build (…) we shall see if they accept,” Berceanu told the committees.