The claims made by North Macedonia’s Premier Hristijan Mickoski, his Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski and other responsible figures in Skopje regarding Corridor No. 8 are false and misleading. This was stated by the National Railway Infrastructure Company (NKZI), which is directly responsible for the project on the Bulgarian side, reported BGNES.

The funds from the Operational Programme "Transport and Transport Infrastructure" 2014-2020 finance the preparation of the modernization of the railway line Sofia - Pernik - Radomir - Gyueshevo – the border with North Macedonia. ‘’Field archaeological surveys have been conducted during the preparation of the route, and the documentation, including an environmental assessment, has been completed", said NKZI. The investment amounts to over EUR 1.125 million. Priority is given to developing solutions for the section from Gueshevo station to the entrance of the Deve Bair tunnel. A technical project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Work is ongoing not only on the section to the Macedonian border but also in the direction Sofia-Burgas.