The financial resources allocated for maintaining and repairing roads over the last two years increased from 1.033 billion lei to 1.366 billion lei. The Road Fund in Moldova accounts for a larger part of the state budget and GDP than even in the states with a developed road network and with a greater payment capacity, says the study “Purchases financed with money from Road Fund” that was presented by the independent think tank “Expert-Grup” on July 23. ”In this connection, the challenge is to ensure the efficient use of this money,” said “Expert-Grup” program director Dumitru Budianschi, quoted by IPN.

The main problems highlighted by the independent experts are related to defective income planning, which leads to the non-collection of at least 4 million lei a year, to the arbitrary allocation of resources from this fund and lack of transparency. The practice of misusing money from the Road Fund continues. Relevant examples are the building of streets in the new quarter of Nemteni village of Hancesti district, to the value of 22m lei, and of the noise prevention wall on the Soseaua Hancesti St in Chisinau, of 3.3m lei.

“Expert-Grup” consultant Sergiu Merjan said the fact that the State Road Administration authorized the companies of “Drumuri” SA to perform road repair works raises questions as the given companies cannot meet the required road building standards.

The biggest problems were yet identified in the process of repairing and maintaining local roads, in regions. The decisions to allocate money are rather political in character and do not meet the real economic necessities. The quality of the repair works on local roads leaves to be desired.

Acting deputy minister of transport and road infrastructure Anatol Usatyi agreed that the method of using the allocations for repairing and maintaining local roads is not the best one. “The road sections that are to be repaired are chosen without consulting the local public authorities. The decision is taken at the upper level and this is not fair. Currently, the ministry, the State Road Administration, other involved institutions and economic entities working in the field discuss possibilities of restructuring the Road Fund so as to make the distribution of money from it more transparent and of allowing more companies to execute works that are repaired with money from this fund,” he stated.