The European Union will offer €32 million in the form of a grant for the rehabilitation of the North-South railway corridor in the Republic of Moldova. The funds will be used to modernizes an essential railway section, which connects the northern and central regions of the Republic of Moldova, and also with the international transport networks, IPN reports.
According to a press release of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the companies Obermeyer Hellas (Greece) and DB Engineering & Consulting (Germany) will provide support services in the supervision of rehabilitation works, thus contributing to the integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European transport networks.
The consultancy contract between Moldova’s Railway (CFM) and the representative of Obermeyer Hellas and DB Engineering & Consulting, which won the tender contest for the provision of support services in the implementation and supervision of the rehabilitation works of the North-South railway corridor - Vălcineț-Ocnița-Bălți-Ungheni-Chisinau-Căinari - was signed on November 8.
At the signing ceremony, Mircea Pascăluță, secretary of state in charge of transport, said that this project is of vital importance for the development of the railway infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova, and the financial support provided by the European Union is a significant step towards the integration of our country into the European transport networks. The partnership with renowned European partners will contribute to the modernization of Moldovan infrastructure and will facilitate essential economic connections for the future.
The North-South railway corridor will be rehabilitated over a distance of 375 km, of which 128 km of railway are in an unsatisfactory condition and will be repaired with the support of the EU. The rehabilitated section will ensure connection with the industrial environment located in the north and center of the Republic of Moldova, as well as with the free economic zones in Marculesti, Balti, Ungheni and Chisinau.
Also, goods from Romania and Ukraine are exported, imported and transited through that corridor. At the same time, it ensures connection with the Căinari-Cimislia-Basarabeasca-Giurgiulesti railway corridor, being also used for the logistics of goods transshipped in the Danube ports and on the Black Sea.
The project is essential for the connectivity of the Republic of Moldova, facilitating the export, import and transit of goods between Romania, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. For its implementation, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova ratified the €23 million loan agreement with the EBRD, the €41.205 million financing agreement with the EIB and the amendment to the €18.205 million loan agreement with the EBRD.
