The opening of the seven-kilometer reconstructed section of the Pljevlja - Bijelo Polje road, from Mijaković to Vrulja, an event of great importance for northern Montenegro, took place without the presence of those to whom the road should mean the most, citizens, representatives of the Municipality of Pljevlja, the local parliament and local media.
Neither the Mayor of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, nor the Speaker of the Local Parliament, Jovana Tošić, received an invitation from the Government of Montenegro to attend the opening of the road section from Mijaković to Vrulja, which was ceremonially opened to traffic yesterday by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.
This was confirmed by the first man of the northernmost Montenegrin city.
The event was attended only by representatives of the Pljevlja PES, Minister Maja Vukićević and Director of the Traffic Administration Radomir Vuksanović.
"We did not receive any official invitation from the Government protocol, and TV Pljevlja was not allowed to film the event. Such a relationship did not exist even during the DPS era. We, of course, will not go uninvited," Vranes told TV Pljevlja.
The local public broadcaster confirmed to "Vijesti" that their crew was not allowed to film the event, explaining that they were not part of the protocol. The media house believes that this is the height of unprofessional attitude towards the media and the spirit of a long-ago time.
The city's first mayor claims that Pljevlja is still facing what he says are decades of discriminatory treatment by the central authorities.
"Unfortunately, this relationship has lasted for years. And Prime Minister Spajić, who is originally from Pljevlja, should not allow himself to disparage the citizens of Pljevlja and Television Pljevlja in this way," emphasized the Mayor.
Vraneš says that Pljevlja expects equal treatment and respect, especially when it comes to projects and events that directly affect the lives of citizens.
Although excluded from the opening, the Mayor and his team toured the bridges after the ceremony.
Vraneš, he says, was particularly pleased that citizens spontaneously gathered and, on the very day that marks December 1, the Day of Unification of Serbia and Montenegro, gave names to the newly built bridges.
"The longer bridge of 160 meters is called the King Alexander the Unifier Bridge, and the shorter one, of about 120 meters, the King Peter Bridge. This shows that the idea of unification is still alive. Perhaps it is no coincidence that these two bridges were opened yesterday, as a symbol of uniting the Serbian people. The will of the citizens must be listened to, their wishes are always fulfilled in the end," said Vranes.
The Vrulja - Mijakovići road, which cost over 7,5 million euros to build, was opened to traffic yesterday.
"This is a 7,5-kilometer section in whose construction the state invested over 7,5 million euros (7.697.497,53 euros including value added tax). The works on the section included the construction of a 6,5-meter-wide roadway, as well as the construction of two bridges 128 and 160 meters long," the government said in a statement.
Spajić said that the Vrulja - Mijakovići road shortens the travel time from Pljevlja to Podgorica by about half an hour, or a little over two hours of driving.
He said that the Vrulja - Mijakovići section is important both for better connecting Pljevlja with the central part of Montenegro and for more balanced regional development, because it opens a completely new perspective for this region in terms of tourism and economic development.
Spajić also pointed out that with the construction of a new road network, the entire north will receive a development stimulus that will gain full momentum with the construction of the second section of the Bar - Boljare highway.
He announced that the new year will bring the beginning of work on the Pljevlja - Dajevića Han road, and the reconstruction of the bridge on the Tara River will give this part of Montenegro a completely new dimension in terms of tourism.
"With all other projects that the Government will finance in Pljevlja, we will provide a strong infrastructure boost and realize the investments that the citizens of Pljevlja have long deserved," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Vukićević added that the reconstruction of the Pljevlja - Metaljka road, with a total length of 15 km, is also planned.
Vuksanović also announced the start of work on the reconstruction of the road from Pljevlja to Dajevića Han at the beginning of next year.
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