Minister: Railway projects opening new investment cycle
In the period up to 2020 we expect large investments into the railway sector which will be a driver of a new investment cycle that will bring a lot of benefit to Croatia's economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds Branko Grcic said presenting investment projects for Croatia's HZ rail operator.Railways are one of the government's key strategic interests which can be seen in the fact that these projects which are currently being prepared are valued at EUR 2.5 billion, Grcic said.
According to Grcic, these projects are the basis for a new development cycle in addition to projects valued at EUR 400 million which have been completed, are under way or are being negotiated.
He added that investments into railways are completely different than investing in roads where the state had to borrow money and now is not in a position to repay these loans. "That is why we are offering them for concession to salvage public finances", he pointed out and urged the opposition who, as he said, had taken part in creating a dispute over this matter, to take part in solving the problems.
Railway projects, Grcic noted, will mostly be financed from European Union funds and the state may borrow a smaller amount to cover its own share.
Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transportation and Infrastructure Sinisa Hajdas Doncic said
that the aim of the railway investments which by 2020 should amount to around HRK 40 billion, was to raise the quality of railway tracks so that freight transport can achieve speeds of up to 120 kmph and passenger travel up to 160 kmph.The priority of these investments, Hajdas Doncic said, was to secure railway routes along the 5b and 10 pan-European corridors which means the Rijeka transport route as that is the message we are being sent from the international business community which has focussed its interest in the Rijeka Port to transport goods to Europe.
(Hina)