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PS urges speeding up R4 preparation, calls for strategic investment status
🇸🇰 Slovakia /Economy & Trade

PS urges speeding up R4 preparation, calls for strategic investment status

From SME · (9h ago) Slovak Critical tone

Translated from Slovak, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The opposition party Progresívne Slovensko (PS) urges the acceleration of the R4 expressway preparation in eastern Slovakia.
  • PS calls for the Minister of Transport to declare all R4 sections as strategic investments and expedite land acquisition and permitting processes.
  • The party criticizes the minister for prioritizing a Bratislava tunnel project over the R4, arguing the latter is crucial for regional development.

The opposition party Progresívne Slovensko (PS) has voiced strong concerns regarding the slow pace of preparation for the R4 expressway, a vital component of the Via Carpatia corridor connecting eastern Slovakia with Poland. PS MP Darina Luščíková has directly called upon the Minister of Transport, Jozef Ráž, to designate all sections of the R4 as strategic investments. This designation, she argues, is essential to unlock progress in land acquisition, project documentation, and the overall permitting processes, which have been lagging significantly.

Without this, Via Carpatia will not move, and without this, eastern Slovakia will not move.

— Darina LuščíkováMP for Progresívne Slovensko, emphasizing the importance of the R4 expressway for regional development.

Luščíková and PS are particularly critical of the Ministry's perceived prioritization of the Karpaty highway tunnel near Bratislava, a project estimated to cost nearly 2 billion euros. They question the necessity and benefit of this tunnel, especially when compared to the transformative potential of the R4 for the Prešov region and eastern Slovakia as a whole. The party highlights that while tens of millions of euros are being spent on studies and consultants for other projects, the R4 remains stalled, awaiting crucial governmental attention and action.

The Karpaty Tunnel, a project costing almost 2 billion euros, is not even necessary, as state analysts also say.

— Darina LuščíkováCriticizing the government's focus on the Karpaty tunnel over the R4.

From the perspective of Progresívne Slovensko, the delayed development of the R4 represents a broader neglect of eastern Slovakia. The party contends that the Via Carpatia project, and specifically the R4, has the power to fundamentally reshape the economic landscape of the entire eastern region. By urging the minister to act decisively, PS aims to draw attention to the disparities in infrastructure development within Slovakia and to advocate for a more balanced approach that recognizes the needs and potential of regions outside the capital. Their call for strategic investment in the R4 is not just about building a road; it's about fostering economic growth, improving connectivity, and ensuring that the people of eastern Slovakia are not left behind.

Via Carpathia is waiting for projects, permits, land settlement, and whether Fico's government will even notice that people live in the east.

— Darina LuščíkováExpressing frustration over the lack of progress on the R4 and perceived government neglect of eastern Slovakia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by SME in Slovak. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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