Bulgarian regional development and infrastructure reforms

Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Shishkov, has initiated efforts to reform municipal infrastructure investment and oversight. In early October, Shishkov met with Sofia district mayors to discuss the Investment Program for Municipal Projects, focusing on critical needs such as water, sewage, and road infrastructure. He announced a new campaign, ‘The Regions Speak,’ intended to involve direct field visits to municipalities to assess local problems firsthand. By mid-October, the Minister emphasized that infrastructure investments must be guided by strategic planning and general urban plans to ensure effective regional development. He also called for better synchronization between central and local administrations. Furthermore, Shishkov announced that the State Agency for National Security (DANSK) has launched an investigation into the Varna Municipality to examine construction permits issued over the last four years regarding potential illegal construction. On October 19, Shishkov announced road modernization plans aimed at enhancing connectivity for smaller settlements to help prevent rural depopulation. During an inspection of the III-121 Inovo – Boynitsa – Kula road, he highlighted the importance of these connections. Regarding the Hemus Motorway, Shishkov noted that repairs to the Topli Dol tunnel are critical for safety and are expected to last approximately six months, with temporary openings planned for the Christmas and New Year holidays. He warned that the Vitinya bypass remains unusable due to the risk of a retaining wall collapse. Additional repairs on another section are scheduled to begin early next year. Shishkov stated that current closures are necessary to implement fundamental repairs following neglect by previous administrations. Expanding on road modernization, Shishkov indicated that construction on the ‘zero lot’ of the Vidin–Botevgrad road is set to begin, with completion expected by the end of next year.