FinMin to Continue to 'Aim at Best Value for Money' in R2 Construction

Bratislava, August 4 (TASR) – Rather than adopt decisions, it falls to analysts to produce analyses and recommendations for the Government and, in so doing, enable it to make the best possible decisions, the Finance Ministry said on Friday amidst discussions devoted to the construction of the R2 expressway.

“We understand that the priority is to build the R2 as soon as possible. We will continue to seek ways to build it for the lowest possible cost and thereby deliver on our roles set out in the Government Manifesto, including when it comes to value for money,” the ministry wrote on its Facebook profile.

A recent assessment of R2 construction by the ministry’s Value for Money Unit (UHP) hasn’t been exactly embraced by the Transport and Construction Ministry. The unit has advised against building a full-fledged R2 from Zvolen (Banska Bystrica region) to Kosice throughout as financially injudicious and suggested instead renovating or building additional lanes on some sections of an existing road.

The Finance Ministry sees room for savings especially in R2 stretches that are only being prepared for construction. It said that its discussions with the Transport Ministry are already yielding major savings in costs, including as regards the Krivan-Mytna section and the Soroska tunnel.

The Finance Ministry said that its assessments consider all expenditures incurred in an investment and its future benefits. “They also consider efficient flow of traffic and its safety. When gauging the benefits, we also take into account the current and expected future number of cars on the road, which, in turn, takes into account the region’s development and increase in employment that the road will bring,” reads the ministry’s statement.

The construction of the R2 expressway was also discussed by the Coalition Council on Thursday. The Coalition pledged to carry on with the project as envisaged in the Government Manifesto.