Despite last-minute funding increases, transport associations are sounding the alarm that it won’t be enough. According to industry representatives, next year’s state budget falls nearly 11 billion crowns short compared to this year’s allocation. While Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS) added 22 billion on Wednesday, the associations warn this increase won’t maintain the current pace of highway construction and railway modernization projects.
“We consider the proposed budget for the Ministry of Transport insufficient and risky in many respects,” Romana Šauerová, president of the Transport Association, told Novinky. She warned of potential contract signing delays and postponement of new project preparations, which “reduces investment efficiency and increases future costs.” Construction companies, designers, and suppliers all face uncertainty.
According to Wednesday’s decision by Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s cabinet, the Ministry of Transport will operate with 128.7 billion crowns next year—10.8 billion less than this year. The finance ministry’s initial proposal included a 33 billion cut, though the government eventually added funding. Transport Minister Martin Kupka previously stated the increase isn’t sufficient, suggesting a need for an additional 60 billion above the original proposal.
The State Transport Infrastructure Fund will receive 98 billion crowns, well below this year’s 118 billion allocation. Milan Klempíř, economic analyst at the Confederation of Industry and Transport, acknowledged that public-private partnerships (PPP) and toll revenues might slightly strengthen income, but these sources cannot replace the tens of billions missing from the budget.
Several key highway projects are scheduled for completion in coming years, including the southern D3 from Prague through České Budějovice to Austria and the D11 through Hradec Králové to Poland. Next year should see the opening of several sections of the D35, connecting Bohemia and Moravia through Litomyšl and Olomouc to Lipník nad Bečvou. Railway projects, including the modernization of the České Třebová international hub and several Prague stations, also face funding uncertainties.
Both Radek Mátl, Director of the Road and Highway Administration, and Minister Kupka remain optimistic about securing additional funds. “We’ll solve this. The budget will be discussed by the Chamber of Deputies, and the latest figures on this year’s performance are favorable,” Kupka stated.
