“In Thrace, the heart of our homeland beats strongly,” said the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport from Komotini
In the three pillars of the plan, implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, it was mentioned Mr. Costas Karamanlisduring the presentation of the Development Program of Thrace in Komotini, in the context of the tour of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the region.
“In Thrace, the heart of our homeland beats strongly. It is not just the north-eastern land edge of our country. Thrace is a very important crossroads with a prominent strategic character”, emphasized the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport.
Mr. Karamanlis estimated that the geostrategic role of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in the wider region of Southeast Europe “cannot be highlighted if we have not laid the required foundations. And these foundations are none other than the infrastructures”, adding: “In the Mitsotakis Government, we transform the vision into action”.
Mr. Karamanlis then referred to the three main pillars of the plan of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Firstly, the ports. “Thessaloniki, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, really constitute a maritime arc of the North, which, however, all these years, had not been exploited. This has now changed”, emphasized Mr. Karamanlis.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport recalled that: “Some time ago and after persistent political negotiations, we succeeded in including the port of Alexandroupoli in the trans-European transport networks. What does this mean practically? It means that we are unlocking very important funding from the European funds, in order to upgrade the role of the port. At the same time, the way is opened for private capital to flow in. And all of this certifies and justifies the decision of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, not to proceed with the concession of the port, but to remain in the ownership of the Greek State, which has the ability, and now also the financial tools, to fully develop the potential of the port on an energy, commercial and geopolitical level and in the future to decide whether to grant it under other conditions”.
Mr. Karamanlis also referred to the implementation of the ambitious Sea to Sea transnational project, which will unite five maritime and one river port.
“Imagine: Thessaloniki, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Burgas, Rousse in the first phase and then even in Constanta. With this project we are developing important cargo flows between the countries of the Middle and Far East and the Black Sea countries, as – and this is what is nationally important – bypassing the Bosphorus Straits”, he pointed out.
The second pillar of the plan of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is the development, finally, in our country of a modern railway network.
Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that the projects of the next 15 years will be the railways and reminded that the Government of the New Democracy has already auctioned the largest package of railway projects amounting to 4.5 billion euros.
“So once again we make the vision a reality. We do the self-evident, which was unthinkable. In other words, we are finally connecting ports with a road and rail network. With the construction of the new railway line Thessaloniki – Toxotes, a project that has already been tendered, a project of 1.7 billion euros, the plain or southern section. The upgrade of the Alexandroupolis – Ormenio line, the line that essentially bypasses the Bosphorus Straits. We are also not forgetting the maintenance and upgrading of the existing railway network of Northern Greece, amounting to 190 million euros, a project that will be done with PPP”, said Mr. Karamanlis and added: “Therefore we are putting into practice what we call combined transport, so that finally for this area to get the added value and become a transport hub of the wider area”.
Third pillar they are the vertical road axes, which improve the connectivity of our ports, as well as of every prefecture.
“Drama-Amphipolis, PPP project. Serres – Drama – Kavala, a project we are doing together with the region. Xanthi – Echinos – Greek-Bulgarian border. Completion of the vertical axis Ardano – Ormenio with the bypass of Provatona. Alexandroupoli Ring Road: There are already construction sites. But also the cross-border bridge Kipon – Ypsalo, a wound and a shame for the country”, said Mr. Karamanlis, pointing out: “These are the big road projects, which will not be done, but which are already being implemented in the region. With these modern highways, we are bringing entire regions out of isolation.”
Mr. Karamanlis therefore spoke of “a growth leap that exceeds 4 billion euros”.
Because apart from the railway projects in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, which amount to almost 3.4 billion euros, road projects are also being implemented which approach one billion euros, as well as other projects such as water supply and flood protection. In fact, the study of the Dereio dam, a very important project for the region, will be launched immediately. Building projects are also being implemented at the Police Directorate and Civil Protection operations centers, amounting to 131 million euros, with PPP.
“We are finally upgrading the wider area and upgrading it geostrategically. But we are also doing something else, which the Prime Minister has set as a priority: We are strengthening and creating thousands of new jobs. All these are projects done at district level. We are no longer talking about projects that take place only in Athens and Thessaloniki”, emphasized Mr. Karamanlis and concluded: “It is nationally necessary for the population in this very sensitive area to continue to flourish. And especially the uncritical Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, what Kyriakos Mitsotakis has proven, is that it is now finally receiving what it is entitled to, namely a large dividend from the development of the country”.
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