The public sector could cooperate with the private sector on railway development. The intention of the Ministry of Transport was approved by the government at yesterday’s meeting. She instructed the Department to provide an analysis of this model for two planned investments. It will concern the modernization and new construction of the line from Prague via Veleslavín to Václav Havel Airport, as well as the second part of the modernization of the line Nemanice I – Ševětín in South Bohemia, the Government Office stated.
The Ministry of Transport will present the results of the possibility of building railway infrastructure through so-called PPP projects (Public Private Partnership) to the ministers for a further decision, the government agreed today.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka (ODS) said in June that the state could build high-speed lines in the future in the form of PPP projects. He wants to try it first on the planned modernization of selected tracks. So far, the only PPP transport project is the construction of the section of the D4 highway between Příbram and Písek, which began last year.
The Vice President of the Union of Industry and Transport of the Czech Republic, Radek Špicar, has previously pointed out that PPP projects do not work very well in the country. According to him, ministries have prejudices against the private sector, on the contrary, the private sector is sometimes afraid of the public sector. The National Development Fund established last year should contribute to the connection of both spheres. So far, however, no project has been supported from it. The National Development Bank, which is the parent company of the fund, is now dealing with the lack of plans and the limited product focus of the fund.
Source: CTK
