An allocation of 900 million euros. It will be managed by the mayor of Genoa, with almost unlimited powers, and soon the government will appoint extraordinary commissioner. There will also be one punishment for Autostrade: he will have to put his hand at the cash desk and at the same time will have some sections removed. This is the heart of the Genoa decree, which on Thursday 15 November - more than three months after the collapse of the Morandi bridge on 14 August - was definitively approved by the Senate with 167 votes in favour, 49 against and 53 abstentions.
THE EXTRAORDINARY COMMISSIONER
After the publication of the Genoa decree in the Gazette, a provision by the Prime Minister will formalize the appointment of the mayor of Genoa, Marco Bucci, as extraordinary commissioner for reconstruction. The term of office is one year, with the possibility of extension up to three. The commissioner will be supported by a structure with 20 members. Bucci himself will appoint two sub-commissioners, who should be a jurist and an engineer.
THE MONEY ALLOCATED WITH THE GENOA DECREE
The 900 million will be divided as follows:
- 520 million for the demolition and reconstruction of the Morandi bridge and compensation for displaced persons (the actual expenditure is estimated at 360 million, but another 160 million are allocated for 2018 and 2019 "for the purpose of compensation in terms of needs and debt");
- 234 million for the economic revitalization of Genoa (in detail, 60 for tax exemptions, 20 for support for local public transport, 20 for the new urban free zone, 35 for supporting damaged businesses);
- 84 million for the safety of road and motorway infrastructures
- Finally, 60 million they were allocated for post-earthquake reconstruction in Ischia in 2017. This chapter also includes the controversial measures on applications for old building amnesties (which will be assessed on the basis of the "broad" rules of the 1985 Craxi amnesty) and the new amnesty.
All of the €900 million will come from cuts to already existing budget funds. Most of the transfer of resources (584 million) will affect the Investment Fund of the Renzi and Gentiloni governments.
HIGHWAYS PAY
Autostrade will have to pay all the costs for the demolition of the bridge, its reconstruction, the restoration of the connected road network and compensation for displaced persons.
On the other hand, as we have seen, the Genoa decree also allocates public funds to cover: they will be used if the company does not comply with the obligation to pay or delays payments.
COMPENSATION TO DISPLACED PEOPLE
Owners of houses to be demolished and citizens who stipulate a deed of voluntary sale of the property with the commissioner will be entitled (within 30 days of the transcription of the deeds) to an indemnity equal to 2.205,50 euros per square meter (approximately 40% in more than the market prices in that area of Genoa).
They will also collect the flat-rate compensation of 45 thousand euros per housing unit provided for by the regional law on Pris, plus another 36 thousand euros per house for "sudden eviction allowance". The management of these funds will be the responsibility of the commissioner, but the costs, as mentioned, will remain the responsibility of Autostrade per l'Italia.
PROCUREMENT ASSIGNMENT
For the assignment of contracts (demolition, design of the new bridge, reconstruction works), Bucci will not be able to assign any task to Autostrade or its subsidiaries or associates, but any other exclusion has been eliminated with respect to the initial text. The decree does not mention the methods of assignment, but Bucci has already clarified that he will make simplified, very fast tenders by invitation: 5-10 companies will be invited for each assignment, choosing the best on the market, and entrusting the choice to a commission of technicians external.
SECTIONS REMOVED FROM MOTORWAYS
The Genoa decree also establishes that the commissioner must immediately identify the A7 and A10 motorway sections "functionally connected to the Polcevera viaduct" and that these sections will be immediately removed from the motorways.
