The Lovćen - Cetinje cable car, with an intermediate station at Ivanova korita, worth around 50 million euros, should be completed and opened in 2027.
The Royal Capital explained to "Vijesti" that a tender for the selection of a designer and contractor is expected to be announced in two months. They state that the start of work is planned immediately after the tender is completed and that the goal is for the cable car to be fully functional in 2027.
They announced that, after conducting a tender procedure, they signed a contract with the company "Inženjer Gogić" on July 16th for the development of a conceptual design for the second phase of the Kuk (Lovćen) - Ivanova korita - Cetinje cable car.
"The company 'Inženjer Gogić' completed the work within the scheduled deadline and submitted a conceptual design that includes an individual cost estimate for both sections Kuk - Ivanova korita and Ivanova korita - Cetinje, including the total value of equipment, works on the construction of the cable car, as well as the preparation of complete project documentation. The total estimated value of the works, according to the conceptual design, for the section Kuk - Ivanova korita amounts to 17.380.500 euros, while for the section Ivanova korita - Cetinje it amounts to 32.182.000 euros. Also, in addition to general documentation, the conceptual design includes technical reports, technical conditions for the execution of works, occupational safety measures and complete graphic documentation," the Royal Capital stated.
They explained that the technical report, in addition to the conceptual design, contains a description of the gondola lines, cable car stations, drive motors and components, garages for accommodating and servicing gondolas, as well as the appearance of the gondola itself. The technical report contains the cable car line, the distance from the ground and the crossings, the pillars and the foundations of the pillars. The technical conditions for the execution of the works contain a detailed description of all types of work that need to be carried out, as well as a quality control and assurance program, they stated.
A consortium consisting of Podgorica-based company "Novi Volvoks" and Italy's "Leitner" is interested in building a cable car to Cetinje with an intermediate station at Ivanovi koriti, after opening the Kotor (Dub) - Lovćen (Kuk) cable car for commercial use in 2023. The consortium has received a 30-year concession from the state for that section.
The capital claims that they have fully implemented all obligations and that the Ministry of Public Works is next in line:
"By developing the Conceptual Design, the Royal Capital of Cetinje has fully implemented all of its obligations. The feasibility study, cost-benefit analysis, detailed landscape study, project terms of reference and conceptual design have been submitted to the Ministry of Public Works for further jurisdiction. In the next two months, an open tender procedure for the selection of the designer and contractor is expected, followed by the start of the second phase of construction of the cable car."
They added that the tentative timeline for completing the entire project and putting the cable car into operation will be defined after the selection of the contractor, and the Royal Capital of Cetinje expects the cable car to be in full operation in 2027, depending on the dynamics of the works and procedures preceding the construction itself.
THE GOAL IS TO ATTRACT TOURISTS
The analysis of the feasibility of the construction of phase II of the Kotor - Lovćen (Ivanova korita) - Cetinje cable car showed, among other things, that this project is unique compared to similar examples in the world, due to its specific characteristics.
"While most cable cars are aimed at public transport in urban areas or as part of the ski infrastructure in mountain resorts, the cable car project from Kuka to Cetinje, through the Lovćen National Park, aims to attract tourists - both existing and new - thanks to improved access to various locations and its role as a tourist attraction. Specifically, this cable car will improve access to the Lovćen National Park from the direction of Kotor and Cetinje, improve the connection between Kotor, the coast and Cetinje, and become a tourist attraction in itself, offering beautiful panoramic views during the ride and at the intermediate stations. The expected result is an increase in the number of domestic and foreign visitors to this region, which will lead to direct and indirect economic benefits. Increased tourist spending, the development of new commercial facilities and greater employment opportunities for the local population are just some of the positive consequences that this project will bring to the local economy," the Royal Capital of Cetinje pointed out.
According to the Government's concession act for the implementation of the Kotor - Cetinje cable car project from 2015, the route is divided into three parts with four specific terminal locations - Dub, Kuk (intermediate station), Ivanova korita (intermediate station) and Cetinje, with a total length of about 15 kilometers.
"The Dub - Kuk section is 4.130 meters long, the Kuk - Ivanova korita section is 3.517 meters long, and the Ivanova korita - Cetinje section is 7.454 meters long," the document states.
The location for the concession is determined by the special purpose spatial plan for the Lovćen National Park.
New jobs and business development
The Royal Capital said that the cost-benefit analysis for the implementation of the Kuk - Ivanova korita - Cetinje cable car construction project showed that local development is positively correlated with positive effects, especially in the part related to the economic benefits of the investment.
"This project is expected to have significant positive effects on employment, the development of entrepreneurship and an increase in income for both local governments and the population. In this regard, it is necessary to consider the effects that the implementation of part of the Dub to Kuka cable car project is already having, which has significantly improved public infrastructure (a public parking lot was built in Kotor, the road to Ivanovi korita was renovated), improved employment (during the months of operation, the project, together with the accompanying infrastructure, has employed over 100 people), and improved entrepreneurship (several catering facilities, restaurants and souvenir shops have been opened at the Kuk location, and the opening of hotels and similar facilities is also planned)," the Royal Capital said.
Spajić planned to open on the twentieth anniversary of independence
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, after a meeting with the Mayor of the Royal Capital, Nikola Đurašković, in May 2024, emphasized that the cable car is a very good project that will have the full support of the Government and that the money for its construction will be allocated from the capital budget.
"During the meeting, it was emphasized that this is the most important investment at this moment for Cetinje and that it is realistic to expect that the works could be completed by the celebration of 20 years since the restoration of independence", the government announced.
Montenegro will celebrate 20 years of restoration of independence in May 2026.
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