Skopje, 26 June 2024 (MIA) - Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski called on the Public Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday to investigate the operations of the Macedonian Railways Infrastructure and the Public Enterprise for State Roads after the State Audit Office released a report on the implementation of capital investments.  
 
According to Nikoloski, the report casts doubt on the work of the State Roads Enterprise, among other things on the Drenovo-Gradsko road, regarding which he noted that there are risks of arbitration, as well as on the increased value of the Kichevo-Ohrid highway by EUR 175 million, on which EUR 446 million have been spent, but it has not been finished even after 10 years since the start of construction. 
 
As regards the third phase of the railway to Bulgaria, where the value has increased by EUR 220 million, i.e. to EUR 560 million instead of the originally planned 340, according to Nikoloski, a tender procedure has been launched in an extremely non-transparent process before the elections in conditions when, he noted, everyone knew that change of government is coming. Bids for the tender are submitted until today, but the Minister pointed out that for the time being he cannot do anything about possible cancellation. An evaluation process will follow together with the State Roads Enterprise and international creditors, and revision of the project will be discussed.

"It is the most expensive railway that ends in a tunnel that has no end, and for which Bulgaria does not even have a railway connection project," said Nikoloski.

He called on international creditors for talks on whether this was the right way and whether it was worth spending the people's money like this, adding that the Public Prosecutor's Office should investigate the operations of the two companies.

He announced that he will request declassification of the contract with Bechtel and Enka for the highway sections of Corridors 8 and 10D, after the change of the leadership in the State Roads Enterprise. 

Photo: MIA