“Alexandroupoli acquires the role of a catalyst for the supply chain and international trade”, emphasized Mr. Staikouras, who referred, at length, to the actions concerning the utilization of the geostrategic value of the Port of Alexandroupolis, such as the possibility of creating a multimodal transport corridor with Bulgaria and Romania, but also the development of another solidarity lane, aimed at transporting Ukrainian products.
Mr. Staikouras presented in detail the eight initiatives that have been undertaken by the Ministry for the development of Thrace, and in particular of Evros and Alexandroupolis and they concern:
– Utilization of the Port of Alexandroupoli,
– Improvement of the Road Connection with Turkey,
– Construction of the Eastern Ring Road of Alexandroupolis,
– Dereo Dam Study,
– Construction of Xiropotamos Lake Reservoir in Samothraki,
– Replacement and Undergrounding of Irrigation Networks TOEB Erythropotamos,
– Study, Construction, Financing and Technical Management of Service Housing Buildings of five (5) Police Directorates and
– Upgrading of Alexandroupolis State Airport.
“We have the strong will to “run” these initiatives at a good pace, with quality and efficiency, so that we can substantiate our claim that our country strengthens its position as a positive example, as a “player” of positive commemoration”, concluded the Mr. Staikouras.
The following is the full text of the speech of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras
I want to thank the initiators of the Conference for the excellent organization and for the kind invitation.
Invitation to present the contribution of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to regional development, to the development of Thrace, Evros, Alexandroupoli.
That is why I will talk to you about eight (8) specific issues.
1st. Port of Alexandroupolis.
The Greek Government sought, in time, to highlight and exploit the potential of the geostrategic value of the port of Alexandroupolis.
As a result, the Council of Transport Ministers of the European Union included the port in the revised Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T.
Our country, included in the European Corridor of the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea, known as the “3seascorridor”, is coming closer to countries with which there was traditionally no connection and cooperation.
As a result, Alexandroupoli acquires a role as a catalyst for the supply chain and international trade.
In the direction of achieving this goal:
* We activate tripartite cooperation with Bulgaria and Romania, to create a multimodal transport corridor.
* We submitted, in January 2024, a proposal to the European financing program Connecting EuropeFacility (CEF-II), to strengthen the Alexandroupolis – Ormenio railway connection.
2nd Road connection with Turkey.
We keep the channel of communication open with the neighboring country, in fields of the so-called positive agenda.
In this context, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is implementing an agreement with Turkey for the construction of a second border road bridge, at the Kipi – Ypsala crossing, with the aim of serving the growing demand for commercial traffic and the need to strengthen existing facilities in the cross-border area.
3rd. Construction of the Eastern Ring Road of Alexandroupolis, contractual amount of more than 26 million euros.
The occupation of expropriated properties is pending, as well as the relocation of the DEDDIE and DEVAA networks outside the project implementation area.
Due to these backlogs, the completion of the project is estimated in 2025.
4th Dereiou Dam study, with a budget of approximately 5 million euros.
Its construction will offer significant benefits to both local and regional development, since it achieves:
* Irrigation of important agricultural lands, of the order of 400,000 acres, from Didymoteicho to Alexandroupolis.
* Anti-flood protection of the areas downstream of the dam, including the city of Didymoteichos, by controlling the flood runoff.
* Settlement water supply and improvement of public health due to the use of controlled drinking water.
* Ability to generate electricity.
On February 2nd, the Minutes of Evaluation and Grading of Technical Offers of the Tender Committee were submitted.
The signing of the Decision approving this is awaited.
Next comes the opening of the financial offers of the participants.
As long as no appeals are filed against the specific decisions, the signing of the contract is expected in the 2nd half of 2024.
5th Construction of Xiropotamos Lake Reservoir in Samothraki, with a budget of approximately 4 million euros.
After the catastrophic event of September 2017, where in Xiropotamos the topographical data of the bed changed due to the alluvium and excavations caused by the downpour, a modification of the original study was approved.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of May.
It is necessary to find additional funding for the construction of the bathhouse and the perimeter lighting, so that it is possible to safely drain the water into the already existing irrigation network.
The related additional process is expected to last approximately 1 year.
6th Replacement and Undergrounding of Irrigation Networks TOEB Erythropotamos, budget 9.5 million euros.
The construction of the project will significantly benefit approximately 4,300 producers, members of TOEB.
The project is estimated to be completed by the end of June 2024.
7th Study, Construction, Financing and Technical Management of Buildings Housing Services of 5 Police Directorates, including that of Alexandroupolis, through PPP.
By Decision of the Board of Directors of “Building Infrastructure SA”, of February 1st, a Temporary Contractor was appointed.
The specific project covers a period of 30 years, of which 2 years concern the construction period and the following 28 years the operation period.
The total area of underground and above-ground areas of buildings and surrounding infrastructure for the Alexandroupoli Police Department amounts to 4,735 sq.m.
The signing of the Agreement is estimated in 2024.
8th Upgrade of Alexandroupolis State Airport.
The Airport is one of the four pillars of the Combined Transport of Thrace.
Its location is adjacent to the road, rail and sea transport of Alexandroupoli.
It manages, for the last five (5) years, an average of approximately 16,000 aircraft movements annually, and handles more than 180,000 passengers annually.
It is the only airport in Greece with 24-hour activation readiness, with a 20-minute advance notice, to serve operational government, military, hospital or firefighting flights.
For example, it serves, on a 24-hour basis, the movements and operational activities of all NATO countries and the Greek Army.
While it also serves the aerial forest firefighting means of the Fire Service.
A typical example of the operational capacity of the Airport is that, in the recent mega-fire in the area, it served more than 32 aerial forest firefighting vehicles, accommodated 140 crew members and technicians, and managed – safely and efficiently – more than 7,500 aircraft movements, without being affected its scheduled commercial flights and other activities.
Our pursuit, and in this direction we are already moving, is the further strengthening of the Airport.
These are 8 political initiatives that we undertook at the beginning of the new administration.
We have the strong will to run them at a good pace, with quality and efficiency, so that we can substantiate our claim that our country strengthens its position as a positive example, as a “player” of positive commemoration.
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