site.btaSofia Residents Demand Accountability for Defective Municipal Construction

Residents of Sofia's Poduyane borough held a protest Wednesday against poor-quality municipal construction and a lack of subsequent action by the authorities. Although organizers planned to block Vladimir Vazov Boulevard, the Sofia Municipality did not grant permission, according to protest organizer Eleonora Angelova.

The protest was triggered by a defective municipal renovation of the building's canopy roof, with residents stressing that entrances and garages have flooded during every rainfall after the work was completed. They blame damaged waterproofing and incorrectly sloped paving that directs rainwater toward the building instead of the drainage system.

Protesters demand a complete reconstruction of the canopy, new waterproofing and paving, removing all defects, installation of safety railings, restoration of the facade, completion of unfinished work, and accountability for the poorly made renovations and for the inaction demonstrated by officials. Angelova emphasized that residents have held multiple meetings and sent numerous complaints to the relevant authorities, including the National Construction Control Directorate and Sofia Municipality, but no action has been taken.

Before the municipal project, worth nearly EUR 70,000, Poduyane District Mayor Kristiyan Hristov required residents to reinforce the garages beneath the canopy at their own expense, which is why the residents raised a little over EUR 70,000 to complete the work. The poor-quality municipal construction has undermined those improvements and has created new risks, Angelova reported.