The President of the European Union Councilors' Club in the Capital City Assembly, Miloš Mašković, called today for the urgent suspension of works on Beogradska Street in Podgorica and called on the authorities to react without delay.
"Today, in Beogradska Street, behind the Ziya Hotel, despite the opposition of citizens and despite the official ban from the authorities, machinery arrived with the aim of continuing work on preparing the construction site," Mašković pointed out in a statement.
Mašković said that such behavior by investors is unacceptable and represents a clear violation of the law.
"The investor has no legal basis to carry out any work in this area. By decision of the chief city architect, the request for issuing urban planning and technical conditions was rejected as incomplete and irregular, making it clear that any construction at that location cannot continue," said Mašković.
He added that, despite this, an attempt was made today to physically begin the implementation of the project in an area that has served citizens for decades as a green space and a natural connection to Gorica Hill.
"This space is not a piece of land for profiteering calculations, it is part of the identity of the local community and a vital part of the city's urban ecosystem. I expect an immediate reaction from the authorities, not only to prevent further arbitrary actions by investors, but also to fully investigate how the construction attempt occurred despite the current solution that explicitly prohibits it," said Mašković.
He said that this is no longer just about urban planning, it is about the right of citizens to decide about the space in which they live and the responsibility of institutions to protect them.
"It is time to end the practice of ignoring citizens and to protect what makes Podgorica a city on a human scale," he added.
Bonus video:
