TRIESTE – The “Council for Civil Supervision” on implementing the project for the second track of the railway line Divača-Koper expressed doubts about the work under construction.
In particular, the body with advisory and non-binding power raised doubts about the advisability of immediately building a double track in the section where today a single track is foreseen and on some expense items of the work. The Committee underlined that the project was not set up in such a way as to build two tracks, eliminating the old one. According to the Committee, the costs of verification and design would be too high on a total estimated value of 743,58 million euros (VAT excluded).
The project owner, 2TDK, replies, explaining that both the Slovenian national and European Union regulations have been precisely followed for the project.
“2TDK does not (yet) have the legal authorization for the proceedings of impleentation of the double track. Proceedings are led by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia. Therefore we kindly ask to contact the Ministry of Infrastructure or/and Ministry of the Envirnoment and Spacial Planning.
The Amendment to the Investment Program “Second track Divača-Koper” is published on 2TDK’s webpage (http://www.drugitir.si/resources/files/Podpisan_NIP_april_2021_2TDK.pdf) and accessible to all interested stakeholders”
The Amendment to the Investment Program including financial and economic analysis was presented to the members of the “Project Council for Civil Control over the Implementation of the Project for the Construction of the Second Track of the Divača – Koper (PSCN) Railway” on 3rd June 2021 by the expert group, responsible for the implementation of the Investment program. Mr Josipovič (the vice-president of the Council) was present at the presentation and had the opportunity to set questions to the experts in case any data was not definitely understood from the presentation, they still say from the 2TDK.
The expert group, as well as the competent employees at 2TDK, were also available to answer possible additional questions – explains the company – after the presentation, The press conference of the Council “took place more than a month after the presentation and Mr. Josipovič did not take the opportunity to obtain additional explanations in the meantime. Therefore we were unpleasantly surprised when acquainted with Mr Josipovič’s statements that the methodology was weak and non-transparent, moreover due to the fact, that it was made in accordance with all prescribed legislation and methodologies”.