Romania: 2018 budget significantly cuts on transport investments

The Romanian Ministry of Transport’s budget for 2018 amounts to RON 9.13 billion (EUR 1.96 billion), 33% less compared to the sums stipulated in the initial budget approved at the beginning of the year, when the same ministry received RON 13.76 billion (EUR 2.96 billion). The budget is similar to that of the first budget rectification in September, when RON 6.24 billion (EUR 1.34 billion) were cut.

On 6 December, the state budget adopted the state budget for 2018. The budget was debated and approved by the Parliament on 12 December and will be adopted in the plenum of 21 December.

„Next year’s draft budget builds on a 5.5% economic growth and an average exchange rate of

4.55 lei/euro. Budget incomes for 2018 are estimated at RON 287.5 billion (EUR 62 billion), or 31.7% of the GDP”, shows the abstract of the draft budget for 2018.

However, investments have been massively cut for most ministries, one of them being the Ministry of Transport which has always been affected by the rectification and reduction of state budget funds.

Consequently, RON 39.96 million (EUR 8.6 million) is allocated for current repairs to railway infrastructure, down from RON 89.87 million (EUR 19.38 million) in 2017.

For railway investments, the Ministry of Transport only has the basic budget of RON 3.4 billion (EUR 700 million), considering that no funds have been granted for this sector in 2017. Also, for 2018, commitment credits are not forecast for railway investments.

For metro transport investments, the Ministry of Transport has a main budget of RON 1.1 billion (EUR 200 million), down by RON 150 million (EUR 32.3 million) than in 2017, but to which it could add commitment credits of RON 5.2 billion (EUR 1.1 billion). We recall that, at the beginning of 2018, Metrorex could launch the tender for the procurement of new metro trains dedicated to the operation on Line 5, in the first phase of section I – Drumul Taberei – Eroilor.

 


Share on:
Facebooktwitterlinkedinmail

 

RECOMMENDED EVENT: