As of today Bulgaria has a state-of-the-art River Information Services Centre to manage vessel traffic, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski at the official opening in Russe. The Centre has been constructed with funds under OPT 2007 – 2013 and the investment is over 6 million Levs.

“The deployment of a river information system in the Bulgarian section of the river Danube and the construction of a RIS Centre are important steps towards the improvement of navigation conditions on the river. Now we have to undertake specific actions to deal with the critical sections on the river”, said Minister Moskovski. Bulgaria and Romania are drafting a joint project to apply for financing under Connecting Europe Facility. Preliminary balance sheets show that about 160 million Levs will be invested in the Bulgarian section only. This will provide a solution to the problems with the impaired navigation in the summer.

By 2020 an intermodal terminal will be constructed in Russe. The financing of almost 4 million Levs under OPT 2007 – 2013 has been allocated to its preparation and the actual construction can start after 2016. “With the realization of all these projects Russe will become an important communication center with one of the fastest transport corridors between Europe and Asia”, said the Minister.

Minister Moskovski highlighted that Hemus highway remains a priority. The first section, from Yablanitsa to Pleven-Lovetch road will be included in the scope of OP Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014 – 2020, and for the rest of the sections some other sources of financing will be sought.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Director General of Bulgarian Ports Infrastructure Company Angel Zaburtov, the Mayor of Municipality of Russe Plamen Stoilov, the Regional Governor Stefko Burdzhev, MPs, representatives of the local and executive authorities and others.