The General Mayor of the Capital, Ciprian Ciucu, states that Bucharest needs another five to six years of infrastructure investment to reach the level of major European cities and asks Bucharest residents for patience during the ongoing construction works.
According to representatives of the Capital's City Hall, dozens of construction projects were unblocked and launched this year, particularly for road infrastructure and the district heating network.
"They were so far behind schedule that we effectively have only two options: do nothing and lose the European funds secured for them, or appeal to the understanding of Bucharest residents and ask them to trust that the construction sites will be completed on time. I need five, or even six, years to get the city's infrastructure in order. After that, we will introduce urban regeneration projectsmore greenery, cleanliness, well-maintained buildings, and quality public spaces where we'll enjoy living," Ciprian Ciucu wrote on Facebook on Monday.
Municipal representatives pointed out that the experience of other European cities shows that urban transformations do not happen overnight.
"This is what European cities that spent years as construction sites look like now. It wasn't easy for the locals, but they now live in civilized, developed metropolises that prioritize green spaces, health, and safety. Bucharest is lagging behindit is only just beginning to get its act togetherbut within the next five years, we will be proud of it. Mayor General Ciprian Ciucu will get it into shape! The experience of other beautiful European cities shows us that urban transformations do not happen overnight. Long periods were required during which residents endured construction sites, traffic, and noise. Yet today, these cities are cited as examples of best practice precisely because they remained consistent in their investment and planning," added representatives of the Municipality.
They gave a few examples, including Copenhagen, Paris, and Madrid.
In the 1960s, Copenhagen was a city dominated by automobiles; the center was congested and the harbor heavily polluted, but since 1962, it has undergone a phased revitalization. Hundreds of kilometers of bicycle lanes were built, green infrastructure was created, harbor areas were redeveloped, and the metro system was expanded. Today, it is considered one of the most pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly cities in the world.
Paris is presented as another example of urban transformation through projects carried out over the last two decades, such as the Grand Paris ExpressEurope's largest metro network expansionthe redesign of boulevards and public squares, the conversion of the Seine's riverbanks into promenades, the expansion of the bicycle lane network, and tree planting.
Madrid underwent major construction work between 2003 and 2015. During this period, the M-30 motorway was placed in a tunnel, and over 120 hectares of parkland, bicycle paths, playgrounds, and pedestrian bridges were created above it.
Regardless of the country, the transformations followed a few common principles: they were planned over the long term (10-30 years, sometimes longer); the work was phased to ensure the city could continue to function; the focus was placed on public transport, green spaces, and the regeneration of degraded areas; and residents accepted that construction sites cause temporary inconvenience while looking forward to long-term benefitsrepresentatives of the Capital's City Hall added.
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