Economically Unviable Projects

The Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF) declares that the Government of Georgia (GOG) will no longer proceed with implementation of several large-scale projects, scheduled for this year – which were originally proposed back in 2012 – due to the lack of viability. Based on relevant studies, it has been identified that the so-called suspension bridge, connecting Marshal Gelovani and Samredia Streets in Tbilisi City (total cost of the project amounting to GEL 80 million) will no longer to built. A thorough study of the issue revealed that building of a bridge connecting the right and left banks, would further exacerbate traffic congestion in the area. Moreover, residents of these streets oppose the construction of that bridge.

Another bridge project, which was intended to connect Tbilisi-Leselidze highway with Mtskheta, has been cancelled. In case of the project implementation, the presence of Svetitskhoveli and Jvari Monasteries in the UNESCO World Heritage List would be called into question, as the new bridge is located directly within the boundaries of these historic sites.

The provision of a 2-km coastline of Batumi with so called golden sand, has been removed from the list of projects, scheduled to be implemented by MDF for 2013. The decision on removal was taken by new management of MDF. As per the project, the provision of the 2-km section of the coastline with sand (in a single case) would cost the state GEL 50 million.

Despite this, MDF is not halting the project to reinforce the Batumi coastline. This year, MDF will announce a bidding for the Batumi coastline reinforcement (protection), the implementation of which is expected to cost no more than GEL 20 million.