Bucharest mayor wants infrastructure work, new concert halls, kindergartens worth EUR 13 billion

The Romanian capital Bucharest alone needs investments of some EUR 13 billion, should all the projects announced by mayor Sorin Oprescu (in picture) come to fruition or at least start during his mandate, which is due to end in 2016. With only a EUR 1 billion budget for Bucharest in 2013, Oprescu says more money can come via EU funding in the next three years.

Most of the projects announced by the mayor concern infrastructure – underground or above ground passages at Piata Presei, Piata Iancului, Mihai Bravu, Plaiul Unirii, Piaţa Muncii, Piaţa Sudului, Piaţa Romană, the Buzesti – Uranus new main street, among others. Most of these should be finalized by end 2014, according to the mayor's planning. A concert hall with 2,500 seats and another one with 500 seats close to Unirii Square, with an estimated cost of EUR 200 million, should start in 2014, and be done by 2016. Arenele Romane the concerts venue should be renovated, while the hospitals Foisor and Victor Gomoiu should be expanded and modernized, by 2015. The plan also features 60 new kindergartens, at an estimated cost EUR 40 million, and a three-year deadline for finalizing them. Another project consists of revamping the education infrastructure infrastructure in Bucharest, a EUR 239 million project in itself. Sorin Oprescu was elected for a second successive mandate at the helm of the Romanian capital in 2012. During his first mandate, the Basarab flyover was inaugurated. editor@romania-insider.com (photo source: Sorin Oprescu on Facebook)