‘One meter highway’ in Moldavia, vandalized

The ‘one meter of highway’ build by businessman Stefan Mandachi has been vandalized. The so-called highway was built in protest against the poor road infrastructure in Romania, especially in the north eastern regions.

In a video post on Facebook can be seen that the side panels lie down, while the milestone reading ‘1 meter of motorway’ has been destroyed, digi24.ro informs.

Witnesses say the violence occurred on Wednesday.

Contacted by phone, businessman Stefan Mandachi says the milestone was hit by an individual with his foot and the side panels were put down by wind.He says he does not know who did it, as on March 15, when it has been inaugurated, thousands of people attended to event and took photos. Mandachi further says the panels will be repaired.

The ‘one meter of highway’ is built in open field, outside the locality and is not guarded or monitored by video.

The 15-minute protest on March 15, was initiated by local businessman from Suceava, who also built the first one meter of highway in Moldavia at his expense, went national.

Tens of thousands of people stopped work for 15 minutes on March 15 at 15:00h, in an attempt to raise awareness over the lack of highways in Romania. The movement was initiated by a local entrepreneur from Suceava, Stefan Mandachi, who runs a chain of restaurants countrywide.

He symbolically inaugurated the small section of motorway, in the presence of around 2,000 people. “I am overwhelmed by the solidarity among Romanians today. There are many companies in Romania that had a positive reaction. Those corporations that did not protest for highways probably don’t need highways“, he told Digi24 TV private broadcaster.

Among those who responded the challenge there were IT companies, transport trade unions and associations, JYSK Romania, businessman and politician Viorel Catarama, 35 mayors from Brasov, other mayors from other cities and villages in the country.

In the home stretch, President Iohannis has announced a public statement endorsement for the 15-minute “#metoo” protest.

Timisoara mayor, Nicolae Robu, and the one of Alba Iulia, Mircea Hava, have also announced on Friday they are joining protest.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania also protested against the lack of motorways.

photo: newsbucovina.ro