The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the Rail Baltica project has held 13 meetings so far. Interviews with the project's former and current management have now concluded that the project has changed its technical requirements at least 116 times. This has delayed and significantly increased the cost of design. These processes have been uncontrolled, without consideration of the impact on project implementation and costs.
Such mismanagement is now no longer the case, commented Andris Kulbergs (United List), head of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry, on the main findings so far:
"Not taking decisions in time has a huge monetary impact, cost increases. Failure to act has a fundamental impact. Yes, the current board is taking action, things have been put in place that were needed 10 years ago. There was a lack of control during that time, now we have caught up, but it is too late."
The Commission of Inquiry has also realized that it is no longer possible to "freeze" or stop the project now that the Baltic countries have submitted their applications for European mobility funding together. For example, the design of the planned Riga Ring railway line is currently delayed because another designer is being sought. This situation risks a loss of part of the funding. But if one country is held back, all the Baltic States could suffer.
The current plan is to implement the first phase of the project by 2030, giving up many extras and requirements. This would both save costs and ensure that the main railway line is in place by 2030.
The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry has a six-month mandate. This milestone is from the date on which the Saeima voted to set up a parliamentary commission of inquiry. That was June 13. So the report of the Commission of Inquiry should be ready by December 13. Kulbergs confirmed that the commission would endeavor to meet this deadline. The facts and the problem situations have been identified.
It should be added that this month former Transport Ministers, ex-Prime Ministers Laimdota Straujuma, Māris Kučinskis (United List), Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity), during whose time the Rail Baltica project was being prepared and delayed, will also be invited to the Commission.
