Bulgaria’s Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) received the green light from the government on Tuesday to hire contractors for the construction of a section of a motorway that will link Sofia with Kalotina crossing on the border with Serbia.

The government's consent will enable RIA to launch the construction of Lot 2 of the western curve of Sofia Ring Road prior to a final decision for the approval of project financing by the European Commission.

The project is eligible to apply for financing under Operational Programme Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020, the cabinet said in a statement.

Bulgaria needs a EU grant of BGN 133.5 M (EUR 68.2 M), VAT included, to build Lot 2, of which BGN 7.4 M is funding under Operational programme Transport 2007-2013 and BGN 126 M under Operational Programme Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020.

Lot 2 involves the construction of 5.53 km of new road with three junctions and two railroad crossings.