Transports’ Budget Paves the Way for Better Infrastructure and Low-Cost Flights

TIRANA, November 17

The sector of transports will get a higher budget for 2017 while more attention will be paid to port infrastructure facilities. Minister of Transports Sokol Dervishaj declared this during the meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Producing Activities, Trade and Environment held on Wednesday. He also confirmed that an agreement between the government and a low-cost airline will be signed by the end of November, thus providing cheap flight tickets to Albanians for the first time.
Although the budget is higher, only nine percent is planned for new roads.
“There is a need for greater infrastructure investments. The budget that we have is Lek 31 billion. More attention will be paid to the conclusion of roads began before 2012 that must end by 2017,” Devishaj said.
He added that Tirana-Elbasan, Lin-Pogradec roads, Tirana Big Ring Road, and Fier, and Shkodra bypasses will take priority. Moreover, he raised a concern related to ports.

“During these years we have focused on roads and we forgot about ports. All the roads lead to ports, but we didn’t pay attention to this sector,” the Minister highlighted.
Further on, he explained that Arberi Road will be constructed by an Albanian company and the agreement with the Chinese company is no longer available.

News Source: parlament.al

Photo Credit: PM’s Office