The state-owned railway manager, SŽDC, launched a tender to modernize a part of the railway corridor from Prague to České Budějovice. Costs associated with modernizing the section between Votice and Sudoměřice are estimated at CZK 6.237bn. The tender will have two rounds. Bidders have to apply for qualification before June 23 before they can submit their offer. The project, aimed at increasing efficiency along the Prague-České Budějovice railway route, includes building two tracks, two tunnels and more than 20 bridges in four years. The server idnes.cz foresees fierce competition among construction companies which complain there is lack of projects. This could bring the price down. SŽDC launched tenders for projects worth CZK 20bn last fall, but these all got stuck in the qualification phase and have not moved forward.
