Raz Confirms Preparations for Lawsuit against Scrapping of Tender for D1 Section

Bratislava, 22 December (TASR) - Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) confirmed on Monday that they've already prepared a lawsuit to review the decision of the Public Procurement Office (UVO) chairman to scrap the tender for the construction of the D1 Turany–Hubova motorway section in Zilina region. According to the minister, they want to use all means at their disposal, including a request for a prosecutor's protest, to stop this decision, which they consider to be completely wrong. "We'll do everything we can to continue with the tender for the last D1 section [between Bratislava and Kosice - ed.note]," said Raz about the tender for the D1 Turany-Hubova section on the occasion of the opening of the D1 Lietavska Lucka-Dubna Skala section with the Visnove tunnel (Zilina region). The minister pointed out that in the case of the D1 Hubova-Ivachnova section near Ruzomberok (Zilina region), which was also planned to be handed over at the end of this year, the extension of the works was caused by another minor landslide at the exit from the Cebrat tunnel. "One bridge structure was affected by the landslide. This technical problem is being addressed, and I believe it'll be a matter of months," added Raz. Chairman of the Public Procurement Office Peter Kubovic ordered the National Highway Company to cancel the tender for the construction of the D1 Turany-Hubova motorway stretch, with the reason being that the strict requirements for the contractor's experience with tunnel construction weren't reflected in the contractual conditions. According to the office, only applicants who could meet these requirements could apply for the tender, but according to the draft contract, they wouldn't have to comply with them during construction. The office added that such a procedure is an unjustified restriction of competition. am/mcs