EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Legislation, Railways, Real Estate, Transport
International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Friday, 26.04.2024, 15:51
One track route for Rail Baltica in Latvia will be mapped out by the end-2015
There are two potential routes being looked at the moment, and when the most suitable route is selected, it will be known which properties will have to be expropriated and their owners compensated.
He added that the expropriation process will take place no sooner than in 2017.
Property evaluation will be done by a commission set up at the Transport Ministry, and the state and landlords in question will then have to reach agreement on compensation. If this is impossible, the given properties will be expropriated by a special Saeima decree.
As reported, the Rail Baltica project deals with construction of a new 1,435 millimeter standard-gauge railroad in the Baltic countries. The implementation of project could cost EUR 1.27 billion to Latvia and EUR 3.68 billion to the Baltic States altogether. The European Commission could co-fund 85 percent of the project's costs. The request for funding will be submitted to the European Commission in 2015, so construction of the railroad could begin in 2016. Further funding for the project is to be provided as part of the next financial period that will begin in 2020.