Breaking: Bulgaria‘s Chief Secretary Orders Urgent Measures for Danube Bridge Traffic Management
In a move to address escalating concerns around traffic management at the Danube Bridge in Ruse, Bulgaria’s Chief Secretary Dimităr Glavchev has ordered immediate actions. Reports indicate that transport operators have been asked to pay a toll to pass through a private car park on the bridge.
Glavchev initiated a discussion with Minister of Interior Aтанас Илков, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Виолета Коритарова, Minister of Transport and Communications Красимира Стоянова, Director of MITIC (Customs Agency) Георги Димов, and Ruse Regional Governor Драгомир драганов. The meeting aimed to streamline traffic flow and address the buildup of queueing systems on the bridge, which has reportedly led to extraordinary waiting times.
In a recent broadcast by Nova Television, it was highlighted that unknown firm employees are utilizing so-called "buffer parking" areas that were established prior to Bulgaria’s entry into the Schengen Area. These areas have been criticized for causing long delays, with drivers forced to pay private firms for parking services.
As the new year began, drivers heading towards Romania encountered fresh challenges. To cross the border, they were mandated to procure a number from a private car park, even when there was no visible queue at the "Dunav Most" checkpoint. Shockingly, a recorded conversation between a driver and an employee surfaces, with the latter threatening police intervention if the driver refuses to comply. Reports suggest that a municipal decree has been issued, compelling all vehicles to register in the virtual queue.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Transport responded, asserting that they lack jurisdiction over the organization of these processes. Their stated objective is to facilitate, not impede, the movement of drivers. The issue has since been forwarded to Ruse Municipality, which oversees urban territories and manages traffic flow.
When approached for comment, Ruse Mayor’s office indicated that a statement would be released on Monday.
It is worth noting that the contentious car park was constructed on municipal land by a private enterprise in 2023. An Anti-Corruption Fund investigation uncovered potential irregularities in the tender procedure, hinting at close ties between the operators and controversial figures such as Razmiq Keropе Chakryan.
Furthermore, the municipality appears to have selected the most financially disadvantageous of several options for the car park’s development and management, opting for a scheme that generates a mere fraction of potential annual revenue of tens of millions. In fact, the municipality could have undertaken and managed the project independently, securing substantial annual profits.