Transport Min Says Romania Can Have 101 Km Of Highway Next Year Depending On Funds

"Transport infrastructure won't change much if the financing isn't adequate. If there's money, we'll direct it to finish works that have been started," Berceanu told lawmakers in parliamentary commissions hearing him for the position of transport minister.

Next year, the Transport ministry plans to work on 508.16 kilometers of highways, 12 ring roads and finish works on 855 kilometers of national roads.

The ministry needs 2.25 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2268) for road maintenance in 2010, of which RON1.26 billion will come from the state budget, RON935 million from the ministry's own funds and RON59 million from foreign loans.

Berceanu said recently he would ask the Finance Ministry to assign 3.5% of gross domestic product to transport in 2010.

"Even if I have said repeatedly that we need 3.5 of GDP in 2010, recent talks leave the ministry's budget at 1.3% of GDP, the lowest amount of funds in the European union," Berceanu said.

Berceanu was endorsed for transport minister by parliamentary committees Tuesday. the Parliament holds a confidence vote Wednesday on the proposed government of Prime Minister-designate Emil Boc.

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