The contract amendment for the tunnel works of the middle section of metro line M3 was signed between BKV Zrt. and Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft. on 30 July 2021, thus removing the legal obstacle to the completion of the metro reconstruction as planned.
The signing of the contract marked the end of a series of negotiations lasting almost a year and a half, as well as a process of official inspections and approvals. The Metro Reconstruction Project Directorate has been providing information on the difficulties encountered in tunnel reconstruction for a year.
On 4 September 2017, BKV Zrt. entered into a contract with Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft. for the reconstruction of the tunnel of metro line M3 in the amount of approximately HUF 48 billion. Due to the protracted reconstruction of the stations in the middle section of the line, it became necessary to establish a harmonized schedule for the construction works, and in this connection to change the fee and the deadline for the contract for the tunnel reconstruction. After months of negotiations, a memorandum of understanding was signed on 21 December 2020, in which the contracting parties agreed to settle an additional cost of up to HUF 9.1 billion + a 5% reserve limit – instead of the HUF 18 billion originally set by the Contractor. Under the agreement, the complete modernization of the tunnel also began on 11 January 2021 in the middle section.
The amendment to the contract required the approval of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (ITM) as Managing Authority and the Supervision Department of the Deputy State Secretariat for Public Procurement Supervision of the Prime Minister's Office.
The Ministry of Innovation and Technology has established that, from an eligibility, accountability and technical point of view, the content of the documents is in line with the description and the project goal set out in the grant agreement.
The Deputy Supervision Department of the State Secretariat for Public Procurement Supervision of the Prime Minister's Office classified the contract modification as legitimate. However, the authorities adopted the eligibility of the contract price – as part of IKOP domestic co-financing – by HUF 6.2 billion.
BKV Zrt. and Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft. in compliance with the conditions laid down by the authorities, the contract modification was signed by the fact that the amendment of the contract by the Contractor does not constitute an apparent legal concept.
The contract concluded today between BKV Zrt. and Swietelsky Vasúttechnika Kft. is a milestone in the fact that the reconstruction of metro line M3 can be achieved within the eligibility period of the EU support.
Budapest, 01.08.2021.
BKV Zrt.
