The Bulgarian authorities halted the public tender for construction of tunnel Zheleznitsa on Struma motorway.

The tunnel is part of the 17-kilometre section of the motorway between Blagoevgrad and Krupnik.

The tunnel is two kilometers in length, with the estimated cost being BGN 250 M, but this also includes the construction of a 2.46-kilometre road and other facilities.

The tender was halted just days before the expiration of the deadline for the submission of bids.

The deadline was scheduled to expire on Friday, but the tender was halted due to complaint submitted to the Commission for Protection of Competition (KZK).

The complaint was submitted by a potential bidder and concerned the tender’s documentation.

The regional development ministry notes that the tender has not been cancelled but only temporarily halted and will be resumed once KZK comes out with a statement.

Since last week the government has cancelled a series of public tenders, including the BGN 800 M tender for the construction of lots 1 and 2 of Hemus motorway.

The tender was cancelled due to lack of EU funds and media reports linking the contractors to controversial MP and media mogul Delyan Peevski and head of Lukoil Bulgaria Valentin Zlatev.

The tenders will be relaunched under the new Public Procurement Act, which will ensure greater transparency and eliminate any suspicions on the selection process.