Kyustendil District Chairpersons Demand Action on Corridor No. 8
Chairpersons of municipal councils from Kyustendil district gathered at the Gyueshevo railway station to express their strong desire for the accelerated construction of the road and railway route of Corridor No. 8. This call for action comes after the councilors of all nine municipalities in the region unanimously adopted a joint declaration for the project's swift implementation last month.
"We firmly believe that Corridor No. 8 is of paramount importance for the development of our region," the chairpersons declared.
Their concerns stem from the disparity in progress between Bulgaria and neighboring North Macedonia. While North Macedonia has already begun construction on their side of the corridor, Bulgaria remains in the conceptual design phase, particularly regarding road transport connectivity. The railway infrastructure has progressed further, with the completion of the environmental impact assessment and public discussions. However, the chairpersons emphasized the need for the state to take a more active role in driving the project forward.
Dimitar Velinov, Chairman of the Kyustendil Municipal Council, highlighted the urgency of the situation. "We are still in the conceptual design phase, especially regarding road transport connectivity, while in neighboring North Macedonia, construction is already underway. As for the railway infrastructure, the environmental impact assessment has been completed and public discussions have already taken place. However, the state must also take its responsibility," he stated.
The chairpersons' united stance and their call for action underscore the critical importance of Corridor No. 8 for the economic and social development of Kyustendil district. They urge the government to take immediate steps to expedite the project and ensure its successful completion.