Construction works on Lyulin Highway could be fast-tracked, so that it is concluded by the end of next year, regional development minister Assen Gagaouzov was quoted as saying by Sega daily on March 21.

The Government will do its best to speed up construction works and launch the infrastructural development by mid-2009, Gagaouzov said at a meeting with representatives of businesses from the Pernik area.

The 19km-long Lyulin Highway, estimated to cost 148 million euro, will link the capital with the future Strouma Highway, which will run from Pernik to Kulata check-point at the Bulgarian-Greek border, minister Gagaouzov said.

A considerable amount of resources would be allocated to Pernik region this year, he added. At least 23 million leva have been earmarked for Pernik municipality under the Regional Development programme, the minister noted.