«I couldn’t not come here, to clarify how things are and remove any doubt that the high-speed train in Calabria will not be built. I don’t understand this alarmism, it has no sense or basis. It is difficult for me to think that a Minister who is building the bridge over the Strait would not also take care of the high-speed trains; the bridge would be meaningless without the fast connections that are essential to it. The Government not only has not forgotten the South, but is working intensely and – with data in hand – with concrete and tangible results, to fill the infrastructural delays accumulated over the years, which have seriously penalized our territory. The funds are there and the Salerno-Reggio Calabria high speed line will be built.”
This is how the Senator and President of the Lega group intervenes in the Senate Transport Commission, Tilde Minasi, at the press conference promoted in Rome by the Mayor of Cosenza, Franz Carusoin collaboration with the technical-political committee set up ad hoc to protest against the decisions and the alleged governmental inertia on the subject of AV SA-RC, also present numerous Calabrian mayors, parliamentarians, MEPs, regional councilors and trade union representatives.
«I was particularly keen to participate in the event – specifies the Senator in a subsequent note – to rectify the misinformation that is continually conveyed to citizens on the high speed in Calabria, an alarmism, I repeat, which has no reason to exist, other than that to instrumentally attack the Government and Minister Salvini. High Speed is a strategic infrastructure for the relaunch of Calabria, the South and the entire country. It is false that no work is being done and that there is no funding. To disprove those who claim it, I wanted to illustrate, on the occasion of the conference, the progress of the work and the funds currently available.
Lot 1A, Battipaglia-Romagnano, worth 2.9 billion euros, is fully financed and the works are already underway, with completion expected by 2026 thanks to the PNRR, lots 1B and 1C, Romagnano-Praia, have a total value of 8 billion euros, of which 7 billion already financed by the Complementary Plan, while for the Santomarco Gallery, worth 2.1 billion, the tender for the works is underway.
The remaining lots (Praia-Paola, Paola-Lamezia, Lamezia-Gioia Tauro, Gioia Tauro-Reggio Calabria) are in the planning phase, with the financing to be progressively guaranteed in the RFI Program Contract.
Why, therefore, in the face of concrete facts, raise doubts and criticisms, which only harm the population?
These numbers clearly demonstrate that the project is not only not at a standstill, but is progressing quickly, with certain resources and a clear plan. Talking about immobility is simply out of place and counterproductive. Furthermore, the work is part of a broader plan which also includes the airports and the Bridge over the Strait, fundamental pieces of a vision which aims to make the South the engine of economic and social development for the entire country”.
During the conference the Senator also took up the appeal of the mayor of Cosenza Caruso to promote a discussion between institutions, RFI, local administrators and representatives of the territory:
«As President of the League group of the Transport Commission, I will be responsible for calling a hearing in the Commission and also organizing a direct meeting with Minister Salvini, because it is right that there is an indispensable discussion to dispel any doubts and perplexities, demonstrating how the work machine is already in motion and is proceeding with seriousness and determination. It is sufficient to observe the first operations already started on the Battipaglia-Romagnano stretch and in the works that will extend up to Reggio Calabria, where advanced tools and technologies have been put in place, such as the use of the latest generation Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM), capable of guaranteeing greater efficiency and safety in the realization of the works”.
And, as for the change of route, complained about by Caruso and other mayors of the Cosenza area, Minasi specified: «If we talk about high speed, it is clear that a straight route will be faster. What will then be needed is good internal mobility.
I repeat – concluded the Senator – alarmism is useless and harmful. High Speed will happen. In fact, it’s already being done.”