The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport announced the holding of tenders and the conclusion of contracts for projects until the beginning of 2023 George Karagiannisin his statement during the debate of the budget in Parliament.

“In the period 2015-2019, projects worth just under 1 billion euros were launched. During our period, projects worth 10 billion euros have already been put up for auction and contracts worth just under 5 billion euros have been concluded,” said Mr. Karagiannis.

He talked about the big momentum in the construction sector, which he said “will continue in the coming years, as according to all available data, the level of investment in construction projects will reach 8.1% in 2025 from 4% of GDP in 2020.”

Which projects are put up for auction, and which are contracted until the beginning of 2023

Mr. Karagiannis developed a plan for the project until early 2023, highlighting: “Already in previous days, phase II of the $1.7 billion BOAC concession project began. euros with a view to submitting binding proposals in March 2023. In the coming days, we will announce a tender for the suburb of Western Attica with a budget of about 130 million euros. And by the end of the year we are starting a tender for the extension of line 2 to Ilion with three new stations in Palatiani, Ilion, Ag. Nikolaos in the amount of about 550 million euros.

In addition, according to the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, in the first quarter of 2023, a project connecting the Western Regional Egaleo with the national highway, as well as the axis of the Ioannina – Kakavia road, with a budget of about $310 million, will be put up for auction. Euro”.

He also said that the contract for Thessaloniki FlyOver, one of the first road projects implemented under PPP, will be signed on Monday for 373 million euros.

In terms of contracts, Mr. Karagiannis noted that in the coming weeks “they will be signed” for the bypass of Chalkis and Psakhna worth 210 million euros, as well as the “Bralos-Amphissa” worth 265 million euros, “Kalamata – Rizomylos – Pylos – Methoni” on EUR 251.8 million, the BOAC Hersonissos-Naples section in the amount of EUR 290 million, as well as the expansion of Kimi Street and the connection with PATE in the amount of EUR 352 million. . In addition, in the first half of 2023, the signatures will also drop by 17 school units in Central Macedonia by 128.4 million euros.”

Regarding rail projects, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure stated that “during the first months of 2023, we will conclude six rail projects worth $4.5 billion. euro, and we will significantly increase the strategic importance of ports by creating new data for the transport of people and products.”

Project delivery speed

“For the first time, the Greek state can implement projects earlier than expected,” said Mr. Karagiannis, adding that “this is good not only for one government or one party, but for the entire political system.”

“BOAK in Crete, the Patra-Pyrgos highway in the Peloponnese, the metro in Thessaloniki were not stigmatized by just one government or one party. These are examples of the inefficiency of the entire political system,” he stressed.

Therefore, according to Mr. Karagiannis, “the fact that the state delivered the Thermi-Galatista road 6 months earlier than the original schedule, the Amfilochia bypass road, which connects the axis of the Aktio-Amvrakia road with Ionia-Odos, 5 months earlier, and that the Patras-Pyrgos highway is already 3 months ahead of schedule, which is also a win for the political system. Because faith in institutions is strengthened, a sense of optimism and self-confidence is strengthened, the real potential of the country is understood.”

Fast reflexes and active construction sites

Mr. Karagiannis highlighted “the right reflexes and ability to deal with emergencies demonstrated by our actions to mitigate the effects of higher commodity prices, as well as the risk of stopping many projects.”

“We managed to maintain the dynamics of the construction industry and maintain activity at all construction sites,” he said.

“It is typical that in just 1 year the backlog of large construction companies has doubled,” said the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure.

He added that “the private sector knows that the state has done its duty, but it must also understand its own duty. To create an attractive working environment with higher wages and modern working conditions so that it can attract the best minds from Greece and abroad, supporting national efforts and strengthening the extroversion and competitiveness of the Greek economy.”

In closing, Mr. Karagiannis said: “It is clear that Greece has picked up a steady pace. From an example to be avoided, it has become a country of political, economic and social stability. I am sure that citizens will appreciate the policy of continuity and seriousness, the logic of measure and responsibility, and once again give a strong and clear mandate to Kyriakos Mitsotakis and New Democracy.”