The path for direct negotiations is clear after the National Review Commission rejected appeals by two bidders, which had objected to direct talks and instead sought a new tender altogether, Delo reported on Wednesday.

This is just the latest development in the long-running public procurement procedure for what is one of the biggest publicly funded construction projects at the moment.

Last year DARS picked the Turkish builder Cengiz, whose EUR 89.3 million offer was EUR 15 million cheaper than the next cheapest bid.

The procedure was annulled by the National Review Commission, the appellate body in public procurement procedures, because its offer had changed in the course of the procedure.

Subsequently, DARS invited six of the nine original bidder to engage in direct negotiations, Cengiz included.

While the selection of contractor is still ongoing, Austria is already in the midst of building its portion of the 8-kilometre tunnel, with construction works there having started in September.

The project is slated for completion in 2022.