Transformation of Budapest's Kossuth tér delayed until 2010

The renewal of Budapest's Kossuth tér and its transformation into a public park will not happen until 2010, writes origo.hu, based on a report in daily Népszabadság. Although the company s73 Kft. won the tender last year, and the Ft 1 billion (€4,000,000) needed for the constructions has been ringfenced, a contract is yet to be signed.

The idea of converting Kossuth tér into "Hungary's largest playground" emerged after the protests in autumn 2008 and received unanimous backing from politicians. Following an agreement between Speaker Katalin Szili and Mayor Gábor Demszky on Budapest transferring rights to use the square to the state, tenders were invited for its reconstruction with s73 Kft being announced as the winner. However, the project has progressed no further since then with Parliament and the company still discussing plans.

The project would include the reconstruction of the Ministry of Agriculture building to which the Prime Minister's office would move. This plan will also be delayed, as well as the construction of underground parking. As the contract on the rights to use Kossuth tér is still being drafted and will need to be approved by the general assembly before any work begins, the renewal of the square will probably only be completed by March 2010 at the earliest.

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