InfrastructureСподели
A good infrastructure is the foundation for accelerated economic development, better competitiveness of the economy, faster flow of people, goods and passengers. Given the fact that the Republic of Macedonia is located on the main corridors east–west (Corridor VIII) and north–south (Corridor X), the Government will continue with the realization of the capital infrastructural projects which will contribute to improvement of the competitiveness of the national economy, increased economic growth and will make the regional development steadier. This will intensify the Macedonian integration towards EU standards and reduce the infrastructural gap.
In the period 2011–2015, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia will conduct numerous investments in the following areas: 1/construction of highways, regional and local roads; 2/construction and modernization of the railway infrastructure; 3/modernization and enhancement of the competitiveness in the air transport 4/modernization of the electronic communications and broadcasting through new technologies; 5/urbanization and new investments in residential construction and communal infrastructure; 6/ other projects.
In order to provide the most favorable funding of infrastructural projects, Macedonia will continue to cooperate with the world and European international financial institutions, such as: World Bank, EBRD and EIB and will continue to use the European funds. Also, a part of the lines for construction of highways will be realized by finding concessionaires who, if interested, will build and manage them.
Road Infrastructure
Highways construction
Corridor X – Tabanovce – Kumanovo (September 2011);
Corridor X – Demir Kapija – Smokvica (July 2012–2018);
Skopje (Stenkovec) – Blace (the border with Kosovo) (the procedure for concession is in progress, 2013–2018 if there is an interested concessionaire; if the terms for concession are not acceptable, other forms of financing a gradual construction with new dynamics will be applied);
Corridor VIII – Romanovce – Kriva Palanka (the procedure for concession is in progress, 2013–2018 if there is an interested concessionaire; 2014–2015 if the terms for concession are not acceptable, rehabilitation, upgrade and enlargement will take place);
Corridor VIII – Gostivar – Ohrid with a branch line to Albania (the procedure for concession is in progress, 2013–2018 if there is an interested concessionaire; if the terms for concession are not acceptable, other forms of financing a gradual construction with new dynamics will be applied);
Skopje (starting point near village Miladinovce) – Shtip (the procedure for concession is in progress, 2012–2018 if there is an interested concessionaire; if the terms for concession are not acceptable, other forms of financing the construction will be applied);
Shtip – Kochani (the procedure for concession is in progress, 2013–2018 if there is an interested concessionaire; 2014–2015 if the terms for concession are not acceptable, rehabilitation, upgrade and enlargement will take place);
Reconstruction of the highway Katlanovo – Veles and Veles – Katlanovo (2012–2014).
Express roads, national and regional roads (construction and reconstruction)
Construction of an express road from Gradsko via Rosoman and Drenovo (2012–2016);
Express road Shtip –Strumica (2014–2020);
Veles – Shtip (at Kadrifakovo) (2014–2015);
Kochani – Vinica – Delcevo – border with Bulgaria (at Crna Skala) (2012–2015);
Construction of a regional road from Kichevo (Izvor) to Boshkov Most and Debar (2012–2015);
Construction of a regional road Sveti Nikole – Probishtip (Neokazi) (2014 – 2018);
Regional road from Skopje to Sonchev Grad (2012);
Connecting Bitola and Gevgelija by reconstructing and constructing the regional sections in the Mariovo region (2012–2015);
Regional road Taor – Katlanovo (2013);
Regional road Tetovo – Jazhince. Expansion of the road and reviewing the possibility for constructing a new road with a new terminal for goods (2012–2015);
Regional section Kumanovo – Lipkovo – Arachinovo (2012–2015);
National road Kosel – Ohrid – border crossing point St. Naum (2013 – 2019);
Regional road Nova Breznica – Kula – Kolomot (2013– 2016);
Reconstruction of the road Tetovo – Bogovinje – Gostivar (2012–2013);
Reconstruction and asphalting the road Skopje – Tanushevci – Brest – Malino (2013);
Reconstruction of the road Debar – Mavrovo;
Feasibility study on potential Tetovo – Prizren road construction, to the border (2012–2013);
Finishing the construction of the Brvenica junction (November 2012);
Road to the border crossing point between the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia (Golema Crcorija – Golesh) (2013–2015);
Road to the border crossing point Belanovce – Stanchik (2013–2014);
Road to the border crossing point Lojane – Miratovac (2013–2014);
Road to the border crossing point Tanushevci – Debalde (2013–2014);
Feasibility study for the Jabolchishte – Dolneni – Paligrad – Studenichani road (2013);
Road to Treskavec monastery (2013);
Road to village Koastinci – village Zrze –St. Preobrazenie monastery (2013);
Accessible roads for the new quarter in the Krushevo municipality (June 2012 – September 2013).
In order to improve the regional road infrastructure, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia will continue with the project for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the regional and local roads through funds provided by the World Bank, EBRD and the Budget of the Republic of Macedonia. The commenced construction and reconstruction of over 250 local roads and about 380 km regional road network will be completed:
Reconstruction of the Rzanchino – St. Nikole regional road (June 2011);
Kratovo – Probishtip (P–206 connecting with M–2 – connecting with M–5) (June 2011);
Reconstruction of the Resen–Markova Noga regional road, from P–505 Makazi (M–5) – Dolno Dupeni (border with Greece) (June 2011);
Reconstruction of the Prilep–Makedonski Brod regional road, 37 km (June 2011)
Reconstruction of the Strumica – Dojran regional road (June 2011);
Reconstruction of the Ilinden – Kalugerec regional road (June 2011);
Reconstruction of the Radovish – Konche – Lubnica regional road (April 2012);
Reconstruction of the Angelci – Veljusa regional road (April 2012);
Reconstruction of the Struga – Debar regional road (June 2012);
Reconstruction of the Kavadarci – Mushov Grob regional road (June 2012).
Project for reconstruction of local roads – completion of the reconstruction and modernization of 123 local roads totaling 264 km (September 2011 – October 2013)
Also, the following roads will be completed in the following period:
Radovish – Strumica national road (October 2011);
Regional road to connect the ski center Kozuf with Gevgelija (October 2011);
Regional road to connect Makedonski Brod with Skopje (October 2011);
Road from village Djepishte to the boarder with Albania (December 2011);
Building a bridge in Plasnica (December 2011).
Other projects which will contribute to enhancing the road safety:
Third phase of the project “Rehabilitation and strengthening of bridges” (2015);
Rehabilitation of bridges throughout the Republic of Macedonia (2012–2016);
New signalization on Corridor X, and on the national and regional roads (2012–2013 for Corridor X; 2012–2015 for the national and the regional roads);
Lighting the junctions throughout the Republic of Macedonia (2011–2015);
Strategy on the traffic system in Skopje with projects for the city streets: “St. Clement of Ohrid” boulevard to the “Nikola Karev” boulevard and underground thoroughfare from the Directorate of AD (joint stock company) Macedonian Posts to the Bank complex. The Government will invest in this project around 20 million Euros, which is 2/3 of the total amount of the necessary funds (2013–2016);
Support of the project by the City of Skopje to dislocate the communal hygiene from the municipality of Chair;
Support for the project by the City of Skopje for the reconstruction of the Cvetan Dimov boulevard;
Electronic toll collection (2012–2016);
Portal for travel planning in the Republic of Macedonia and e–sale of tickets (July 2011);
Systematic examination of the landslides on the roads (continuously);
Railway Infrastructure
In order to develop the railway traffic, several projects will be conducted for updating the existing railway tracks and constructing new ones, as well as, strengthening the efficiency and safety of the railways.
Corridor X
Modernizing and overhauling the railway tracks of Corridor X (September 2011–2013);
Reconstruction of the railway track Bitola–Kremenica (April 2013 – December 2015);
Rehabilitation and upgrade of the major railway stations of Corridor X (June 2015);
Project for a radio dispatcher (GSM–R or Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway) on the railroad from Tabanovce to Gevgelija (June 2013 – September 2015);
Automated speed control (ETCS or European Train Control System) on the railroad from Tabanovce to Gevgelija (June 2013 – September 2014);
Corridor VIII
Construction of a new railroad from Beljakovce–Kriva Palanka to Deve Bair, the border with the Republic of Bulgaria with a length of 60 km (2012–2020);
Construction and reconstruction of the railroad Kumanovo–Beljakovce with a length of 29 km (2012–2020);
Construction of a new railroad from Kichevo to Lin, the border with the Republic of Albania with a length of 70 km (2012–2020).
Other railway projects:
Constructing a railway branch line of Corridor X to Kavadarci with a length of 6 km through a partnership with the private sector (June 2013 – June 2016);
Rehabilitation and upgrade of the railway station in Skopje (March 2012 – September 2013);
Constructing an industrial track for the Zhabeni Industrial Zone near Medjitlija, in collaboration with the municipality of Bitola (October 2013 – December 2014);
Study on the potential construction of a multimodal terminal – logistic center for loading and unloading goods by trains and trucks in Skopje (2013–2016);
Renewal of the passenger transport fleet of Macedonian Railways AD Transport – Skopje by procuring 3 new diesel engine sets and 2 electric engine sets (2013–2016);
Procurement of 150 train cars of various types for freight transport (2013–2016);
Electronic issuing of tickets (2013–2014);
Electronic ticket reservation and setting up ticket machines for purchasing with a credit card or cash (2012–2015).
Air transport
In order to upgrade the Macedonian airports and increase the security and the competitiveness of the air transport, the following projects will be realized:
Complete renovation and finishing the construction of the “Alexander the Great” airport in Skopje by the concessionaire TAV (September 2011);
Providing cheap flights to Europe in cooperation with the concessionaire TAV (continuously);
Protection of the passengers’ rights according to the European standards through further harmonization of the legislation with the European legislation (continuously);
Adoption of a National Program for Aviation Safety (December 2011).
Electronic communications and broadcast
In order to upgrade the electronic communication and broadcast with new technologies, the following projects will be realized:
Transition from analogue into digital television (7/01/2013);
Construction of the digital television network (June 2013);
High Definition TV (June 2013);
Modernizing the Public Enterprise MRTV’s (Macedonian Radio Television) equipment in order to provide HD program (digitalization of Public Enterprise MRT) (December 2013);
Introducing new 4G Technology (announcing a public call for interest in June 2012);
Microwave Network Digitalization (February 2012);
Microwave Telecommunication Network in order to connect national institutions and reduce their expenses (December 2012);
Introducing digital radio (June 2014);
Introducing Surround Radio (June 2015);
Digitalization of the middle–wave signal for listening to the Macedonian radio on longer distances (June 2014);
Increased use of broadband Internet (2011 – continuously);
Protection of end users and reduction of SMS and mobile Internet prices (March 2012 – continuously).
Civil engineering and urban planning
In order to improve the urban planning and the management with the construction land, to simplify the procedures for obtaining construction licenses and to reinforce the construction standards, the following projects will be conducted:
Passing the Law on Subterranean Real Estate Cadastre, in order to enable the recording and registration of property rights for all subterranean infrastructure lines (October 2011 for passing the Law, December 2014 for implementing the provisions of the Law);
Establishing an electronic register of installed public electronic communication networks (October 2011 for passing the Law, December 2014 for its implementation)
Enabling electronic application and obtaining of construction permits (August 2012);
Transferring the construction lands under municipal competence (July 2011);
Preparation of an electronic application for the implementation of public bidding for construction land (December 2011);
Central database for urban planning (September 2012);
Preparation of planning documentation and its integrated management (September 2014);
Electronic application for issuing an approval for urban planning (September 2012);
Manual on standards and norms for urban planning (October 2011);
Replacing the existing standards for Civil Engineering with the European standards EUROCODES (December 2012);
Proceeding with the implementation of the Law on Handling Illegally Constructed Buildings (continuously).
Residential construction and communal infrastructure
In order to realize the purposes of the housing strategies, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia will continue to implement the project for constructing apartments and houses for vulnerable groups of citizens, as well as residential units and houses for young married couples, single parents, children without parental care who have turned 18 and their right to live in an home for children without parental care has expired, as well as other vulnerable groups of people.
For social cases and other vulnerable groups – in 2011 and 2012, the construction of the 220 residential units in Bitola, Berovo and Shtip will be finished. With the new program, by 2014, 1,314 residential units and houses will be built in the following cities: Skopje, Resen, Demir Hisar, Gevgelija, Prilep, Makedonski Brod, Kochani, Pehchevo, Vinica, Kumanovo, Kichevo, Sveti Nikole, Probishtip, Negotino, Strumica, Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar and Veles.
For persons which have not solved their housing issue (young married couples, persons with disabilities, single parents, solitary and other persons) – by the end of 2011, residential buildings will be constructed in Bitola, while the construction of 450 new units will start in the cities: Skopje, Shtip, Sveti Nikole, Berovo, Pehchevo, Radovish, Makedonska Kamenica, Probishtip, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Demir Hisar, Kumanovo, Kavadarci, Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar, Kichevo and Veles (to be realized by 2015).
Construction of apartments and houses intended for sale – in the period 2011–2015, 1,296 apartments and houses intended for sale on favorable conditions will be constructed or completed in Skopje, Bitola, Strumica, Tetovo and Ohrid.
Completion of the municipal apartments sale process – according to the latest amendments to the legislation, the procedure for selling municipal residential apartments will proceed and this process will be completed by the end of 2012.
Project: Buy a house, buy an apartment! – The Government of the Republic of Macedonia will support the citizens in buying a new or larger apartment or house. The project is intended for citizens who do not have their own place to live or who cannot solve their housing problems. To this end, the realization of two projects will commence:
Fifty–fifty payment for the first 5 years – subsidizing half of the monthly payment for credits up to 50,000 Euros intended for the construction of a house or buying an apartment (commencing 1/01/2012);
Subsidizing 50% of the initial participation in buying an apartment/constructing a house, for credits up to 50,000 Euros (commencing 1/01/2012).
Realization of the following infrastructural projects:
“Philip II of Macedon” National Arena – completing the molding of the stadium facade, equipping and arranging the terrain, construction of a fight arena and completion of the athletics track (2012 – 2013);
Multi–storey car parks construction in Skopje (at the Holocaust Memorial Center, "Rabotnichki dom", the administrative building of AD Macedonian Post, the Justice Palace, the former building of "Nova Makedonija”, the present Flower Market, in front of the new building of the Ministry of Finance) (October 2012 – December 2013)
Construction of multi–storey car parks in Skopje (at the Holocaust Building, at the Worker’s Home (Rabotnichki Dom), at the administrative building of JSC Poshta (AD Poshta), at the Court Palace, at the former Nova Makedonija Building, in front of the current Florist Market and in front of the new building of the Ministry of Finance) (October 2011 – December 2013);
Construction of multi–storey car parks by private investors by the means of selling state land (2011 – 2013);
Upgrading the City Shopping Center (Gradski Trgovski Centar or GTC) by means of public–private partnership (2015).
Utility infrastructure
For improving the utility infrastructure, the realization of the following projects is envisaged:
50 million Euros for Water Supply and waste water drainage in populated areas, whereby each of the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia will receive grants by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia (2011 – 2015);
“Water Supply and Sewage in the Municipalities – phase 1” Project financed by the German Bank for Reconstruction KfW (2012–2015);
Constructing cascade barriers on the river Vardar and solving the fecal water problem in Skopje by constructing sewage and collection systems and treatment plants in the municipalities of Gjorce Petrov and Saraj (2012–2016);
Construction of water supply and sewage systems within the Decade of Roma Inclusion framework (2011–2015).
Other projects:
Completing the project for the procurement of new city buses in Skopje and open–top double–decker buses for tourist promotion in Skopje and Ohrid (2011 – 2012);
After putting the cable cabin railway on Vodno into use, an analysis will be conducted and the profitability, the financing means and the construction deadline of the second part of the planned cable cabin railway will be assessed. In the event of a positive analysis, the construction of the cable cabin railway on the route Skopje – Sredno (middle) Vodno will commence;
Construction of pedestrian trails, landscaping and horticultural lighting around the lakes in the Republic of Macedonia (2012 – 2016);
Actions for purifying the water in the rivers throughout the Republic of Macedonia (continuously);
Regulation of the river Vardar – the section from village Jegunovce to village Tudence (2012–2014);
Registration of ships under the Macedonian flag (June 2012).