Infrastructure projects expected to be implemented this year or that have already begun in the Kolašin municipality are worth around 143 million euros. The plans have been presented by the local government as a development opportunity that could permanently change the infrastructural and tourist image of the city. However, the dynamics of the tender, the resolution of property-legal relations and the speed of implementation on the ground have yet to show how well-founded these expectations are, so the coming months will be a key test of the justification of optimism.
However, as the Vice President of the Municipality claims for "Vijesti", Vasilije Ivanovic, planned and initiated "confirms that Kolašin is in the focus of the Government, but also guarantees that it will be on the map of the most promising tourist centers in the coming years."
"All projects financed through the Ministry of Public Works are in the budget and are not something that is planned, but something that has all the conditions for implementation, that is, there are financial resources provided and I think that for 90 percent of the projects all the documentation is ready. For some projects, the selection of contractors is nearing completion, and most are waiting for the tender to be announced in the coming months," says Ivanovic.
The largest project in Kolašin, but also one of the largest in the north, is the gondola from Breza to the state-owned Ski Center 1600, about 12 kilometers long. The total funds for the tender, in the amount of 101.000.000 euros, are provided by the state capital budget. The project, says Ivanović, will be implemented according to the “design and build” principle, based on a conceptual design initiated by the Municipality. The tender for the gondola is expected to be announced soon.
Ivanovic announces that this year will also begin solving one of the largest traffic infrastructure problems in Kolašin. The reconstruction of the road from Kolašin to the ski resort has been long awaited, and as he claims, the technical documentation for this work has been completed. The Deputy Mayor of the Municipality also announces that at the beginning of the summer, procedures will begin that will lead to the start of the construction of "key elements for artificial snowmaking".
"One of the most demanding projects is the reconstruction of the Kolašin-Bjelasica road, worth around 16 million euros, and is being financed with the help of the Ministry of Public Works. The project involves the reconstruction of the road and the installation of the necessary hydrotechnical infrastructure. The resolution of property and legal issues is underway, and the technical documentation has been completed. The Municipality of Kolašin has recognized the importance of the snowmaking system on Bjelasica, so in cooperation with the Ski Resorts of Montenegro, the development of a preliminary design for artificial lakes on Bjelasica, as key elements of the snowmaking system, has been initiated. The procedures are expected to be launched in the first half of the year," he says.
And when it comes to the difficulties with parking spaces in the city, explains Ivanović, a solution has been set in motion. He recalls that the Municipality purchased land for a garage last year and chose the best architectural solution, and work is now underway on the further phases of the project.
The Usko Grlo road (Donji Pažanj), on the section from the Vladoš bridge to the entrance to the city, will, Ivanovic promises, be reconstructed during the year. The tender is nearing completion, and the selection of the contractor is expected.
"The road will be given the appropriate width and sidewalks, which will significantly improve the functioning of traffic on that section. The tender procedure for this project, worth 2,5 million euros, is nearing completion. A decision on the selection of the best bidder is expected, followed by the signing of the contract and the start of work," says the vice president of the Kolašin Municipality.
According to him, the construction of the missing sports infrastructure in the sports zone has also begun in earnest. The implementation of the phase worth 3,2 million euros is underway. The total construction of the sports infrastructure will cost 8,5 million euros.
"Currently, phases worth around 3,2 million euros are being implemented, which include the construction of two volleyball courts, two tennis courts and two basketball courts with supporting facilities, as well as a football field with an athletics track. Technical documentation for an indoor football field is being prepared, as well as for the continuation of the development of areas in the sports zone," explains the Vice President of the Municipality.
The construction of the street in the Breza settlement, where a large number of completed tourist facilities or those under construction are concentrated, began last year and is worth five million euros. This year, funds in the amount of about 4,5 million euros have also been allocated for the continuation of the promenade from Lug to Breza. The tender procedure for this project, announced Ivanović, will be launched soon, and the start of work is expected during the year.
"For this budget year, funds are also planned for the reconstruction of the Bakovići-Gornje Lipovo road, about 11 kilometers long, worth about four million euros. The wastewater treatment plant project is also in the phase of selecting the best bidder. 70 percent of the investment has been secured through the WBIF grant, and 30 percent will be financed through an EIB loan. Work on the reconstruction of the Velje Duboko-Kapetanovo Lake road, worth two million euros, is also planned to begin soon, which includes breaking through a new route and paving the road, which will significantly improve the accessibility of the area and valorization of tourism potential," he explains.
Ivanovic reminds that last year several road routes were asphalted and announces extensive works on city and suburban streets, as well as in villages, for this year. Among them are roads in the villages of Cerovica, Lipovo, Trebaljevo, Javorje, Ljevišta, Bojići, Prekobrđe, Krivi Vir (towards Pastirica and Laško Brdo). Also, works are planned on the roads Grablje - Zavrh, Vrujci, Jasenova, Žirci, Mrtvo Duboko (towards the Kostrikovača monastery), Šljivovica, Raičevine, road routes in the Morača Monastery, Ljuta, Zavraci, Bare Kraljski, Njegalice, Topli Potok, Oćiba - Poljane, Svrke and Trnovica.
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