Infrastructure Minister Jernej Vrtovec argued on Monday for a stepping up of ongoing and planned infrastructure investments in Slovenia, pointing to the economic benefits and the fact the empty streets allowed work to be executed fast.
“This is a great opportunity to speed up work and to work without traffic congestions,” said Vrtovec, who agrees with the importance of containment measures but also sees a chance to boost ongoing infrastructure projects.
The minister told the press that the head of national motorway company DARS Tomaž Vidic agreed that works be sped up and DARS has indeed been busy in recent days.
The recommendation also applies for DRI, the state-owned consulting and engineering company, and for all projects where contractors have already been selected, Vrtovec explained.
He said the ministry was already looking beyond the epidemic and announced investments into the modernisation of public passenger transport as a matter of urgency.
The ministry will propose that all existing plans for projects be preserved and investment in road and railway infrastructure expanded.
Vrtovec, who wants builders to continue working while honouring protective measures, moreover urged a cutting of red tape. He said the sector moved slowly but had multiplying affects that benefited other sectors and created jobs.
The ministry moreover noted that given the circumstances, it was worth considering an extension of the deadlines for ongoing projects.