German construction chief blasts leaders over stalled Autobahn projects and funding chaos
Tim-Oliver Müller, head of the German Construction Industry Federation, has slammed Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder over the management of the infrastructure special fund. Müller's criticism comes as the construction sector grapples with uncertainty due to lack of clear information about project timelines from Autobahn GmbH and Deutsche Bahn.
Müller took issue with the lack of communication from project managers at Autobahn GmbH and Deutsche Bahn. He pointed out that while DEGES plans and implements projects for the Autobahn GmbH in collaboration with local stakeholders, and DB InfraGO AG oversees Deutsche Bahn projects, the responsibility for providing information on planned 2022 projects lies with the respective project managers.
Despite additional funding, Müller argues that the industry's outlook has not improved. He explained that the special fund is not providing extra money but merely replacing diverted resources. Müller also noted that, contrary to claims, no shovel-ready projects have been implemented yet.
Müller finds it unacceptable that no new projects have started this year despite earlier promises. He urges Chancellor Merz and Minister Schnieder to address these issues promptly to alleviate the uncertainty plaguing the construction sector.
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