Construction of "Velji Brdo" has begun, and detailed studies will follow later.

The construction of the first residential buildings on Velje Brdo will begin by the end of the year, and by then the environmental and other studies will have been completed. It would be unwise to start construction of the facilities without the studies being completed, said the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Slaven Radunović, at today's ceremonial start of preparatory works for the construction of the boulevard for the future settlement on Velje Brdo.

"The vision of decision-makers is only good if it matches the real needs of our citizens. Over 15 thousand households have shown that they believe in this project and have filled out applications on the website. Today we can say that this vision is merging with reality. The project is starting, many doubted it, but I think this is just one of a series of steps that will follow. There is a delay of a few months, which is evident. However, the most important thing is that the project has started and that we see the shovel in the country," said Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.

In September 2024, seven days before the local elections, Radunović and Spajić first presented a project to build a residential complex of 44 thousand residents on this hill, promising that the first move-ins would follow in mid-2026, that a square meter would cost 1.000 euros, and that the installment for a one hundred square meter apartment would be 390 euros over 30 years.

Radunović and Spajić did not specify the deadlines for future moves today.

The Bijelo Polje-based company "Konstruktor Group" was selected for preparatory works worth one and a half million euros. The work involves geodetic marking of areas, clearing of terrain, vegetation and trees, mechanical removal of the earth's surface... The completion of these works, according to the inscription on the construction board, is scheduled for July of this year.

"This is definitely a special day for Montenegro. We are on the threshold of the implementation of the largest urban development project in the history of Montenegro. Today is a solemn day and should be celebrated by those who criticized us from the beginning, who first expressed suspicion that the Prime Minister and I were engaged in political marketing that day, and then when they saw that it was not so, they started to engage for months to finally show their doubts about the international competition. As we said then, it is still the case today. Those who were with us, we will know how to appreciate it. And those who were not, we invite them to rejoice with us because this is for the benefit of all of Montenegro and for the benefit of those who criticized and for the benefit of those who were skeptical. This is great progress. This will relieve construction in Podgorica, lower real estate prices, lower rent prices and for those who do not want to live on a large hill. I highly recommend that all young couples, all tenants and all people in need apply," said Radunović.

The minister said that the prime minister and he did not promise that day that they would build 20.000 apartments in two years.

"We agreed to design everything the way it should look in the end, so that it would not be chaotic. The state will invest as much as needed, plus we will enable commercial construction and sales," Radunović said.

Mayor Saša Mujović said that he would insist and demand that this settlement be a true example of a humane settlement for living and that Podgorica finally return to some of its good roots and some good examples of design that we have in the past.

"Podgorica is a city that seeks breadth, spaciousness, and I want us to show good knowledge of architecture and spatial planning right here. I would not like what we have within the framework of the Zabjelo-Ljubović, Gorica C, Siti kvarta DUP to ever be repeated in Podgorica. The construction of buildings should be such that the density of housing is appropriate, adequate, and what is very important to me is that the construction of buildings is accompanied by the construction of adequate infrastructure facilities. That settlement will not be good if there are only buildings. After the construction of a certain number of buildings, kindergartens, schools and all unnecessary infrastructure facilities will be built here. Only then will this settlement be representative and will it be for the benefit of the citizens," said Mujović.

Minister of Public Works Majda Adžović said that the announcements are over and that one of the largest state projects in the recent history of Montenegro has officially begun.

"It started with ridiculing the idea itself, and then when the Government showed great determination to implement this project, the only thing left for them was an auction with deadlines. This project has the potential to solve one of the burning issues, resolving housing status for citizens who find it unthinkable to secure real estate at current prices today, but also for those citizens who are tenants and who will be able to solve their housing issue in this way. You don't have to take our word for it, believe your own eyes, the project has begun," said Adžović.

The director of Podgorica's "Vodovod", Aleksandar Nišavić, said that they have formed a working team with the Ministry of Public Works to prepare a new strategy for water supply to Podgorica with Velji Brdo and wastewater disposal from the future settlement.

"The strategy should show what quantities of water are necessary for this settlement and how we will ensure a quality water supply, so as not to jeopardize the existing water supply system of the main work. A strategy for hydrological and geological research is being prepared, which relates to the necessary quantities of drinking water, as well as for wastewater disposal. At the same time, a study of the impact of the settlement itself on the source is being conducted," said Nišavić.

He stated that the study will find a solution for wastewater disposal, that is, determine how the collector network of the future settlement will be connected to the new wastewater treatment plant currently being built at the Aluminum Plant.

When asked about deadlines, Radunović said that they could not be specified, but that changes in months were possible. He stated that 630 apartments are being built in the first phase, and that the rulebook on which categories of the population will have priority and under what conditions is being finalized.

"The regulation is being finalized and I can say that we have great cooperation with the World Bank and other institutions that are helping us a lot with the creation of such a regulation. There are experiences from around the world that clearly show how social policy should be treated through the issue of housing policy. Cheap square meters are very much needed by citizens, that is obvious and something that we really want citizens to be able to afford - square meters at normal prices," said Radunović.

When asked when the report on the environmental impact assessment would be ready, given that it is being questioned by a part of the public and environmental activists, Radunović said that he did not have time to answer such questions and criticism.

"I appreciate the non-governmental sector, there are non-governmental organizations that do a great job for citizens and for this country, but there are so-called special forces that deal with spoiling the game, and simply, we don't have time to waste on giving such answers. The study will be finished, otherwise it wouldn't make sense to do the study after we start working, but in any case, we are working. It should be clear to everyone that we are not wasting time, that is the most important thing. You get angry with us if we waste time in idleness, and we are giving forecasts here today while we are talking to you and that we know how the crises in the world will be resolved, whether there will be oil for trucks, and God knows what else. We cannot talk about months of postponement of deadlines when it comes to projects like this. You will forget everything later when people move in. In the first phase, 630 apartments are being built, and that is a huge number, that is a third of Block 5. During its construction, we will also start the second phase and so on, God willing. I don't believe that all of us will be in these places when it is finished settlement, someone else will open those last buildings. In any case, we will be satisfied with that, because success that brings benefit to citizens and Montenegro is our top priority," Radunović said.

He said that priority would be given to families with children with special needs, single mothers, people with disabilities, and then young married couples, tenants...

The minister also said that these activists were to blame for the delays because they dragged out the public debate on the spatial plan for seven months.