Construction, Financial Services, Latvia, Transport

Southern Bridge.

Birks points out, he highly appreciates the work, carried out by the State Auditor's Office; the mayor says he has discussed this matter with the Auditor General Inguna Sudraba and with the Head of the Riga City Development Department Gvido Princis, who was in charge for supervising the project. "Both parties have their arguments. That is why we have law enforcement institutions, which will further evaluate the information," Birks' press secretary Kristine Liepa informed LETA about the mayor's opinion.

"Decisions regarding the Dienvidu Bridge at the Riga City Council were passed with a strong majority of votes, therefore, if the State Audit Office proves to be right, I will consider that the council members were deliberately deceived," Birks previously said, adding that in such case the responsible persons would be submitted to law enforcement institutions.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (New Era) plans to assign the Regional Development and Local Government Affairs Minister Edgars Zalans (People's Party) to become acquainted with the results of the audit of the Dienvidu Bridge construction and to establish what further actions can be taken by the government in this matter.

"The announcement that LVL 27 million have been squandered in construction of the Dienvidu Bridge, did not actually surprise me, as already previously there were comments that it seemed to be among the most costly bridges in the world," Dombrovskis said in an interview on LNT television.

As reported, Riga City Council has squandered LVL 27 million in construction of the Dienvidu (Southern) Bridge, Auditor General Inguna Sudraba Announced in an interview on Latvian State Radio today.

The State Audit Office will make public the results of the audit of Dienvidu Bridge project today.

Sudraba revealed that out of LVL 570 million, which were meant to cover the expenses of the first two stages of the bridge construction, LVL 264 million were spent on attracting financing. This means that each lat, needed for construction of the bridge, cost additional 87 santims.

As reported, the Dienvidu Bridge was unveiled on November 17, last year.