Sofia is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,154,010 (making it the 14th largest city in the European Union), and some 1,220,307 in the metropolitan area. It is located in Western Bulgaria, at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of the country.

These are some of the projects that the Sofia Municipality is planning to implement:

Sofia Solid Waste Management
Sofia Municipality has been in a situation of a crisis concerning the solid waste management as the landfill in Sofia was closed and there is no other landfill on the territory of Sofia and in the region. A short-term solution was found, and the methodology of solid waste baling was introduced. In order to solve permanently Sofia solid waste management problem, the Municipality has started to implement a series of activities in order to introduce separation, waste treatment, disposal of the residual waste and so on.
Estimated Cost of the Investment: 192 500 000 USD

Geographic Information System (GIS) Development for Natural Disasters Risk Management on the Territory of Sofia Municipality  
The development of GIS is important for the state and municipal authorities in the decision making process on: preparation of preventive measures and during natural disasters. The main activities of the project will consist of the following: research of disaster simulation software and methodologies, damages assessment; creation of the format of the necessary data – geological, hydrological, infrastructural and housing data;
Estimated Cost of Investment: 2 300 000 USD

City Environmental Monitoring System Development
The project will include survey of the potential sources of air pollution;development of the format of the necessary data – wind, temperature, types of pollutants, transport traffic, etc.;
Estimated Cost of Investment: 2 300 000 USD

Recultivation of Dolni Bogrov Landfill According to the EU Environmental Requirements  
The aim of this project is the recultivation of the polluted area of the landfill site and the improvement of the landscape in order to create better living conditions and ecological environment.
Estimated Cost of Investment: 23 000 000 USD

Sustainable Development of the Urban Area of Vladaiska River
Vladaiska River crosses Sofia and its internal transport ring reaching its centre. The project will finalize the internal transport ring of the city by the construction of two transport breakthroughs. Estimated Cost of Investment: 103 000 000 USD
Type of Financing: EFRD, loan, own resources  

Construction of Underground Public Parking Spaces in the City Centre
The construction of multilevel and underground car parks has been planned which will offer between 5000 and 7000 parking lots. By the end of 2007 construction works will start at three park sites.
Estimated Cost of Investment: N/A
Type of Investment: PPP, Concession

Extention of Sofia Underground
The project will connect two very important points of the city – Sofia Airport and the Central Railway Station. It will also allow the efficient connection to its central part from two most populated residential districts.
Estimated Cost of Investment: 294 000 000 USD
Type of Financing: EBRD, loan, own resources

Supply of New Articulated and Single-deck Low Floor Trolley Buses
The Sofia Municipality intends to purchase and put into operation new trolley buses 50 articulated and 74 single-deck cars.
Estimated Cost of Investment: 61 700 000 USD

Supply of New Articulated Low Floor Trams. Modernization of Old Trams
The Municipality has developed a project for the purchase of 40 new trams and the modernization of 76 already operational trams.
Estimated Cost of Investment: 106 000 000 USD

For additional information please contact Krassimir Dimitrov, e-mail: dimitrovki@N0SPAM.state.gov , Tel. (359 2) 939 5783, Fax (359 2) 939 5735.