site.btaSofia and State Spar over Delayed Infrastructure Payments

Sofia Mayor Vassil Terziev and the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works Friday sparred over nearly BGN 19 million in delayed payments owed to the capital under a municipal financing programme.

On Friday, Mayor Terziev accused the Ministry of holding back funds for key infrastructure projects for months, warning that such delays threaten the completion of kindergartens, schools, and other critical developments. He described the hold-up as politically motivated and pledged to demand full and timely disbursement of the funds.

In response, the Ministry rejected the accusations, attributing the delays to project modifications made by the Sofia City Hall. It also cited an ongoing audit of a key project — the reconstruction of a central Sofia street — as a legal reason for withholding payments.

The Ministry further criticized the city’s handling of a BGN 16.1 million allocated in advance payments in 2023 for the renovation of 23 residential buildings. Ten of the projects have either missed deadlines for selecting contractors or have yet to choose one, potentially jeopardizing a broader BGN 54 million retrofitting initiative.