Seimas on Thursday simplified territorial planning, land acquisition and construction procedures in order to accelerate the development and installation of railway tracks, gas supply and electricity networks.
The amendments to the law providing for this were prepared by the Ministry of National Defence (MND).
"German partners expressed the need to ensure adequate transport infrastructure to the Rūdninkai training ground and in its territory, so the amendments to the law adopted by the Seimas will create opportunities to install the necessary engineering and transport infrastructure faster. Our goal is to have the most important infrastructure by the end of 2027," said Orijana Mašalė, Vice Minister of National Defence in charge of infrastructure issues.
According to the ministry, the amendments to the law simplify the procedures for territorial planning, land acquisition, and construction when engineering infrastructure facilities necessary for the operation of a test site are built outside its boundaries.
According to her, without amendments to this law, the railway branch could only be created in the 2030s.
The amendments to the law also establish the possibility for the ministry to lease state-owned land plots located in the territory of the polygon to developers, when necessary for public-private partnership projects or entities responsible for the installation of the necessary engineering infrastructure, when it is needed for the functioning of military infrastructure.
As previously announced, the construction of the first phase of the Rūdninkai military campus, which began in August last year, is planned to be completed six months earlier than planned.
In December of last year, land leveling and peat replacement works began at the training ground. Installation of outdoor water supply and sewage systems has been underway since the beginning of the year. Although it was planned that the foundations of the administrative building would be started in July, they have already been installed, and pile installation works for the first dormitory have also begun.
After the first phase is completed, 19 buildings will be erected in the Rūdninkai military town - administrative buildings, military equipment maintenance and storage infrastructure, warehouses, dormitories, a canteen, a gas station-wash, repair shops, garages, guard posts, and parade grounds.
The ministry has also announced the procurement of infrastructure and public services for the second phase of the Rūdninkai military town. It will be developed through a public-private partnership and divided into three parts.
ELTA reminds that Berlin committed to deploying a brigade-sized military unit in Lithuania in the summer of 2022. In total, it is planned to transfer about 5 thousand soldiers and civilians of the German brigade to Lithuania. Some of them will arrive with their families.
It is planned that the majority of the brigade will be transferred to Lithuania by 2026. According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the brigade will gain full operational capacity in 2027.
The permanent location of the German brigade is planned to be at the Rūdninkai military training ground and Rukla.
