Bucharest municipality drafts 2014 budget: EUR 1 billion on infrastructure work, subventions, local institutions

The Bucharest Municipality's proposed budget for 2014, worth an estimated EUR 1 billion and which was recently placed under public debate, features several large infrastructure works in the Romanian capital, with several planned flyovers and underground passages. The Muncii underground passage renovation was allotted a budget of about EUR 10 million, while the Mihai Bravu flyover, currently under construction, was given an extra EUR 10 million. The city hall also plans to finalize revamping several boulevards: Soseaua Pantelimon and Iancului, with some EUR 9 million. Some other EUR 40 million will go to debts stemming from projects finalized last year, including the Buzesti-Berzei-Uranus boulevard. Several new projects are planned to start in 2014, including an underground passage at Presei Libere Square, and a pedestrian pass at Romana Square. The city hall has also budgeted some EUR 10 million to buy housing units off the free market, and some other EUR 10 million for the management of the emergency situations system. Some EUR 7 million will be allotted to revamping the city hall headquarters downtown Bucharest, and some EUR 10 million to build the Lia Manoliu sports hall. Co-financing the revamping of schools will cost some EUR 27 million, while some EUR 2 million will go to revamping buildings prone to earthquake damage. The Public Transport Company RATB will have a budget of some EUR 124 million, while the heating company RADET's budget will be of some EUR 125 million. Other institutions run by the city hall will be given slices of the budget, including EUR 7.5 million for animal surveillance and protection, EUR 50 million for the hospitals' administration, EUR 113 million for the streets' administration, EUR 9 million for the local police, and some EUR 26 million for the lakes and parks administration. The budget needs approval from the General Council, which can also make changes to the proposed budget. editor@romania-insider.com