OREANDA-NEWS. The President inspected the course of repair work on highway M-15 "Odessa - Reni" during his working trip to Odesa region.

“Road construction program is a strategic line of the Ukrainian authorities. The fact that the state budget for 2017 allocates over UAH 30 billion for the road fund clearly demonstrates the priorities of the Ukrainian authorities,” Petro Poroshenko told journalists.

The President reminded that the year before, he had initiated the customs experiment allocating extra customs revenues to the repair of roads in the region, which is currently being implemented in Lviv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and other regions as well.

“Today we see absolutely concrete results in a very short period of this project,” the Head of State noted. He added that successful implementation of such projects became possible due to the joint efforts of the state budget, the government that allocated funds to the regional development fund and decentralization, as local authorities have received an opportunity to direct funds not only to wages, but also to development. “I am grateful to the regional administration, regional council and municipal budgets that concentrated efforts and allocated funds for the construction of this road,” Petro Poroshenko said.

According to him, regular tender procedures are currently being finalized. The President said that the development of tender documentation and procedures should be faster and define the scope of work to attract credible and responsible contractors.

Petro Poroshenko added that another confirmation of priority of road construction was the adoption in the first reading of the draft law on the road fund by the Parliament. It is important because it provides for the establishment of clear sources of financing and distribution of funds for state importance highways and roads of local importance.