At least eight application forms are expected to be submitted by Sept. this year by the Transport operational programme. Three of them - for the two lots of Maritsa highway, the sections Kardzhali - Podkova and Sofia ring road - Yana station, will be submitted to the Manating Authority of the programme in May.

The application forms are a special format indicating the state of readiness of the project including social and economic impact, costs-benefits analysis, preliminary surveys, environmental impact assessment, traffic forecasts, variants analyses, traffic prognoses. The lack of adequate information makes the process of preparation of applications more difficult.

On 25 Jan. the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works signed a contract with the US consulting company AEKOM to prepare within 9 months, i.e. by the end of Sept. traffic prognoses and cost-benefits analyses for eight projects.

For Hemus, Rila, Black Sea highways, Gabrovo ringroad and Shipka tunnel the applications will be ready by the end of Sept.

Shipka tunnel and Gabrovo ringroad are in the group of the reserve projects and their implementation might start or not in this programme period.

The tenders for lots 1 and 4 of Struma highway are expected to start by mid-year.