The first step has been taken and concerns the restoration of disturbed relations… because no binding announcements for the future in Epirus, in relation to the road axes, were made by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Nikos Tahiao.
The visit of the Deputy Minister finally took place after a postponement and a misunderstanding… and at noon on Saturday, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure met in the Region of Epirus with the Regional Governor Alexandros Kahrimanis, after the two clashed over the former’s statements regarding the leftotrees that do not exist to finance all the requests of the Regional Authority of the second, for the road connections of Preveza.
In his statements, the Deputy Minister said that they had a very good conversation, in the presence of the deputy governors of Preveza and Thesprotia. In fact, Mr. Tahiaos admitted at the beginning of his statements that he had a “little anxiety” visiting the office of the District Governor as this relationship, as he said, started with a misunderstanding, with his statement in a televised debate that he cannot commit to a project without knowing the details… He stated that he found in Ioannina an interlocutor who understands these things firsthand…
Decisions will be made at the next meeting, in Athens or in the Region of Epirus soon…
Mr. Kahrimanis mentioned in his statements that he developed to the Deputy Minister the entire complex of roads that he is studying and not only the Region of Epirus today, and declared that the Region of Epirus is willing to assume its responsibilities.
The statements
And Mr. Tachiaos reiterated that the almost two-hour discussion in the office of the District Governor over the spread maps was very serious and that it ended in how it will be possible to use very modern financial tools for the road infrastructure in Epirus. A prerequisite, the Deputy Minister repeated, is a strategic targeting, with a primary role of the Epirus Region. “The next step is our obligation to mobilize the advisers available to the Ministry on the strategic plan and very soon we will meet again with the Regional Governor either in Athens or here. It was a very good start…” emphasized Mr. Tahiaos.
The priorities are set by the Region of Epirus, stressed the Deputy Minister, we will see the money… he said characteristically. Somewhere there he acknowledged that there will also be the contribution of the users, meaning that the model that will be qualified will be that of the concession contract which will include all the sections of the road network of Epirus that are pending, but possibly others from neighboring areas.
“Especially when we want to bring development that does not come from the movement of the local population and this is a rule that we must take into account in the search for money” he commented.
He distinguished the condition of roads such as Egnatia, which currently needs heavy maintenance but cannot proceed without the private sector, compared to other roads such as Ionia, which were built by private individuals and will not face problems for many years. Regarding the axes of Epirus, of course, he added, “we have not yet reached this conversation, but the strategy remains to see which model to proceed with the development of the Region”.
On January 15, the Aktio-Ambrakia road will be opened to traffic, with the Prime Minister possibly also present, announced Mr. Tachiaos.
Ioannina-Kakavia will have a contractor on the 21st of the month, he also announced and finally, for the concession of Egnatia, he stated that he is proceeding with the TAIPED and that the Ministry is solving problems such as the certification of the tunnels, within the framework of its powers.
