Nine construction companies, from Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna, and 11 consulting firms are competing for the major rehabilitation project for Pazardzhik town centre, Stroitelstvo Gradut weekly reported on April 6 2010.The Pazardzhik town centre overhaul scheme is one of 18 municipal projects that were allocated funding from the operative programme Regional Development, worth 9.6 million leva. The reconstruction and renovation plans encompasses14 242 sq m of alleys and pedestrian zones and 76 853 sq m of park lands and green belts as well as the replacement of all street lamps and decorative lighting, and the construction of "auxiliary infrastructure", the report said.The area earmarked for the facelift spans from the town centre along the Bulgaria Boulevard, Ekzarh Yosif Street, Chan Kroum street, and General Gourko Street. Its implementation has been divided into seven construction phases with the preliminary investment set at 7.6 million leva excluding value added tax (VAT).The public tender procedures for the construction applicants were launched at the beginning of February 2010, while they will be evaluated by a commission headed by Roumen Kozhouharov, chief secretary of the Pazardzhik Municipality.Additionally, 11 consulting companies will also compete for participation in the project.