Besides the industrial plan, the most important matter was transportation. According to the requirements of the "Third Five-Year Plan," Bulgaria's total railway mileage would reach 39,000 kilometers within the next five years, achieving full coverage of every important town in Bulgaria!
One had to know that in 1901, Bulgaria's total railway mileage had still been under 13,000 kilometers. By 1907, the nation's total railway mileage had reached 27,000 kilometers. That showed just how much Ferdinand valued railways!
Next came the highway network. "Roads to Every Village" was the slogan of this plan. To achieve this strategic objective, Bulgaria's total highway mileage would reach a staggering 120,000 kilometers!
Well, there was no point being too picky about roads in this era. Asphalt roads were practically mythical, while concrete pavement was treatment reserved for strategic arteries. Everywhere else, as long as it could be used, that was enough. What road grade was there to worry about?
Even road maintenance was handled by local governments organizing citizens to volunteer their labor for free. Otherwise, maintenance costs alone would have driven Ferdinand to collapse!
How much total highway mileage had Bulgaria had in 1901? A mere 20,000-odd kilometers! By 1907, Bulgaria's total highway mileage had reached 68,000 kilometers, and five years later it was to reach 120,000 kilometers!
There was no helping it—this had all been forced out by the world war! After all, in mountainous regions, railway construction was truly difficult. On some stretches, with current technology, who knew what year of the monkey it would be before trains could run through? Roads could only be relied upon to make up the gap!
Experience from his previous life had told Ferdinand that as long as there was enough manpower, building roads was not truly difficult. As long as one was willing to invest,