The Sofia Municipal Council, which is nearing the end of its term in office, will vote Thursday on a general traffic management plan for Bulgaria's capital

The document, prepared by UK consultancy Mott McDonald, consists of a 128-page summary report and 10 bullet point proposals, according to Bulgarian Dnevnik daily.

The plan covers a period of five years, meaning that the next two municipal councils will be involved in its implementation.

Mott McDonald was contracted to provide the traffic management plan for the capital in 2009 for the price of BGN 2.3 M.

The company presented the scheme with a delay of almost a year.

In its analysis, the UK consultancy recommends restricting automobile traffic in downtown Sofia.

The Sofia Municipality launched a public procurement procedure for the preparation of a general traffic management plan in 2008.

The two competitors, Mott McDonald and Louis Berger, were removed on 07 November, 2008.

One month later, the two companies were called back to the negotiating table due to the "need for an urgent preparation of the plan" and Mott McDonald won the direct bidding.

Six years ago, Japanese Padeco was paid EUR 250 000 to provide traffic solutions for Bulgaria's capital.

Three years ago, Dutch consultants drafted a similar plan.

None of the proposed schemes has so far been implemented.

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