As reported several times before, among other things that have gone off the rails with the project, there is currently a €39 million debt to the builders of the two international stations in Rīga – Central Station and the Airport Station.
Government representatives are still not convinced that the contracts signed, which are currently the basis for the significant cost increase in the Rail Baltica project, are in the interests of the citizens.
"As a Cabinet of Ministers, we would also like not only to refer the matter to the Public Prosecutor's Office but also to review all concluded contracts as much as possible. So that in the future there are no such cost increases at the expense of the citizens and the existing cost increases can be eliminated," said Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity), saying that without reviewing the costs, it is not possible to move forward for the time being by simply paying the bills.
"Only when this work is done. Also, maximum possibilities will be found to recover compensation from potential guilty parties. I think then we will be able to move forward."
So far, the only one who has been punished is Ilonda Stepanova, State Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, who was demoted by the government.
As previously reported, officials responsible for Rail Baltica had entered into commitments that were not agreed on or discussed by the government. This has led to an increase of around €39 million for work already carried out on the Rail Baltica sites at the airport and the central railway station.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens (Progressives) said that a small part of the necessary funding had been found in the ministry's budget: "We have to find a way to meet the commitments while at the same time evaluating them. In this case, €39 million is not available in the budget for the European Union part of the funding, we have managed to find a small part of this funding of around €6 million in the Ministry of Transport."
