The Minister of Environment and Water Asen Lichev visited the Municipality of Berkovitsa and showed media representatives where the problem areas are for the implementation of the Petrohan Pass. He was accompanied by the Regional Governor of Montana Valeri Dimitrov, the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Petar Dimitrov, the Director of RIEW - Montana Lyubomir Ivanov, and representatives of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA).

Minister Lichev highlighted for the media that the question whether to have a tunnel under Petrohan was never on the table, because there has been no conflict with environmental legislation. He stated without any doubt that there are no obstacles for the facility to be realized at 100 percent. Minister Lichev clarified that so far the discussion has referred to the connection with the Botevgrad-Vidin highway under the tunnel.

The Minister also explained why he terminated the EIA procedure. According to him, a small part of the new route in the initial plan submitted by RIA passed through the “Berkovitsa” protected area. “There is a collision with the Management Plan for the „Berkovitsa“ protected area for birds, regarding the fact that the purpose of properties with permanent purpose cannot be changed, i.e. meadows. Unfortunately, this order is from 2016 and had a one-month appeal deadline, but since no one appealed it, it has entered into force,” said Minister Lichev. He concluded that together with the colleagues from RIA, a solution will be found for the implementation of the connection under the tunnel with the Vratsa-Vidin highway.