Flawed estimation of investments delays Giurgiulesti passenger Port works

The Giurgiulesti passenger port has not yet been released for exploitation, because the necessary investments were incorrectly estimated. The construction was supposed to end as early as 2008, which did not happen. An audit report from the Court of Accounts, presented on September 21, shows that the Ministry of Transports and Road Infrastructure, acting as the central public budget investments beneficiary, did not ensure the correct estimation of the necessary budgetary funds for the construction of this facility, which lead to a 21 million lei increase from the initial projection of 74 million lei, reports Info-Prim Neo. Court of Accounts’ audit team concluded that, during years 2009-2010, many of the foreseen works were stopped, paperwork registering the works done is missing, as well as other documentation that would support the expenses. Deputy Minister of Transports and Road Infrastructure Boris Gherasim, who attended the presentation of the report, said that many of the works done on the port construction site had been re-done from scratch. The official assured that the passenger port will have been put to use by the end of this year, with all debts covered. “The Minister realizes that sea and river transports are much cheaper than other types of transports. Thus, additionally motivated by the Court of Accounts’ recommendations, we will concentrate our efforts in ensuring that this facility is put to into commission by the end of this year”, mentioned the Deputy Minister. As for the Ungheni River Port, the Court of Accounts concluded that the SOE had 3.2 million lei of unutilized budgetary funds, and 2.6 million lei were used for the enterprise’s current goals, and not for the development of river transportation.