The minister said that 103 projects had been completed since 2010 with some HUF 2.091 trillion spent on building railways. He noted that a loan from the European Investment Bank has helped replace the suspended 55% of transport funds allocated to Hungary, but the withheld amount will also arrive.
Lázár said he considers it a significant achievement that the railway’s ability to keep to its timetable has improved to around 80%, and that the minimum level of service is now set by law. He said since 2022 the number of trips on public transport has increased from 600 million to 1.2 bln annually.
The minister said the state manages 31,000 km of domestic roads and the total gross value of the 305 road construction projects in progress is HUF 1.327 tln. Only three out of 25 county seats or equivalent cities are waiting for expressway connections, while 11 highways now reach the borders of the country, up from three in 2010, he added.
Lázár said Hungary gains a strategic advantage and influence if connections to the West run through here, and he noted that road renovations will continue to need significant funding, and the failure to provide funding for these could result in serious economic damage.
The majority of the around HUF 880 bln annual highway toll revenue is paid by international freight carriers, he noted.
Lázár said his ministry currently manages 566 investment projects with a total value of HUF 3.065 tln. Of the previously suspended investments worth almost HUF 5.5 tln the amount of those restarted is already approaching HUF 3.3 tln.
Answering questions, the minister expressed his fear that there will be no funding for railway and road developments from the next EU funding cycle unless they can be classified as at least partially defence investments.
Lázár said he sees no chance that MAV Group will completely renovate large railway stations in the coming years using only its own funds, but this is not necessary, as some railway buildings not used for railway purposes are also operated as shopping centers elsewhere in Europe, with the participation of business partners.
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