Фото: пресс-служба правительства
Belarus’ Ministry of Transport recently reported on the progress of the reconstruction of the M-10 highway. The site was visited by Deputy Prime Minister Aliaksandr Tsierakhau, who said that the acceptance certificate for the first phase of the project is expected to be signed in September. The completed section is 16 kilometres long, while the overall reconstruction covers 85 kilometres of the highway.
“We are gradually moving on to the implementation of the second phase. Overall, under the instructions of the head of state, the main construction work is to be completed by 2029, with the project scheduled to be commissioned in 2030. The reconstruction is proceeding according to plan. All deadlines are being met. We do not see any problems with the implementation of this project,” the deputy prime minister said.
On Friday, however, the State Control Committee reported problems with the project. Auditors reviewed the design and cost documentation for the reconstruction and found that some costs had been overstated.
“For example, the cost of the M-10 highway’s crash barriers listed in the project documentation was twice their actual price. This item alone resulted in an overstatement of 1.2 million Belarusian rubles.
In addition, the design and cost documentation included unnecessary and unjustified works to produce concrete on site in the Rechytsa and Homiel districts, even though transporting concrete produced in Homiel would have been cheaper. The M-10 reconstruction project also included the construction of temporary access roads using crushed stone and sand mixtures, although these are only required during periods of exceptionally dry weather,” the State Control Committee said.
The documentation will now be revised, the unnecessary works will be removed, and the total cost of the project will be reduced by 17.4 million Belarusian rubles.