A new air traffic control tower for air traffic regulation as well as a communication and information centre, and logistical support management will be erected at the airport of Dolna Mitropolia, near the Bulgarian town of Pleven, Stroitelstvo Gradut reprots.

The project was initiated by the Ministry of Defence and the General Headquarters of the Bulgarian Air Force. The investment required for the project's completion is 3.5 million leva. It will take six months to finish, the construction having started in late December 2008.

The project's designer is the Pleven based company Horizont Ivanov EOOD, and the general consulting firm overlooking the entire construction process, electric rigging and lighting system and software installation, is Stroikonsult GN99 EOOD.

The project was undertaken with the co-operation of the directive Military Infrastructure and sector "Utility for Military Territory", all under the umbrella of the Ministry of Defence.

The current air traffic control tower in operation, 176m from the airport with the main control platform only three m above the ground,  is considered "a grossly obsolete facility". The new tower will be perched 240 metres from the airport and the air-traffic control platform will be 10 m above the ground, so providing much enhanced overall visibility.

The air traffic control centre will occupy an area of 1174 sq m. It will be equipped with the latest technology available in Bulgaria, with 100kW electric supply and additional 100 kW auxiliary electric supply generator. It will be equipped with offices for the staff and an additional area for storage. The hall will be equipped with UPS, supply facilities, fire control facilities and the tower and the entire airport will be rigged with a new electric and lighting system illuminating the entire airport.