‘The first step will be undertaken in the next two to three weeks with the transfer of high voltage lines, and the railway station,’ said Mayor Lulzim Basha.
TIRANA, April 10 – Tirana’s municipal council has paved the way to the extension of the boulevard by approving a Euro 7 million grant by Qatar in a vote backed also by the Socialist Movement for Integration which has abandoned the ruling Democrats ahead of the June 2013 general elections but pledged to continue cooperation with the Democrats at local government units.
“We are in favour of every grant which serves citizens. Of course we supported the Tirana urban plan, which also involves the extension of the boulevard, we supported the budget and of course every grant which serves citizens,” said Shezai Rrokaj, the chairman of SMI group of 5 councilors at the Tirana Municipal Council.
Speaking after the decision which received 29 votes in favour and 20 abstentions by the opposition, Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha described the start of works for the extension of the boulevard beyond the train station as a major project to turn Tirana into a modern European capital and contribute to economic development and employment.
“The first step will be undertaken in the next two to three weeks with the transfer of high voltage lines, and the railway station” said Basha, adding that other donors had expressed their support to the project.
The project’s first stage, worth Euro 7 million, envisages extending the Zog I boulevard 700 meters beyond the train station including a huge parking space at the current train station.
In May 2012, London-based Grimshaw Architects has been announced the winner of an international design competition to extend the boulevard in Tirana beating another British architectural studio in a prolonged competition.
The Grimshaw project foresees the construction of three main squares, the Palace of Justice, the commercial and culture squares, across the 1.7 km new boulevard. The winning project will extend the Zogu I boulevard at the train station by another 1.7 kilometres to the Tirana River, Paskuqan, suburban Tirana, and develop a 133 hectare area and the 6.7 km river.
Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha said the extension of the boulevard and the rehabilitation of the Tirana River would set up a new economic zone, creating thousands of new jobs and improving the quality of life.
In the closing days of 2012, with only the votes of the right-wing councilors and their allies, Tirana’s municipal council has approved the 2013 budget, worth USD 80 million, and its new urban regulatory plan after two decades.
The Municipality of Tirana has approved a USD 240 million budget for the next three years, when investments in infrastructure, support to businesses and employment will be the key priorities. Introducing the draft budget, Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha said the 2013-2015 mid-term budget is worth USD 240 million of which USD 80 million will be spent only in 2013.
A special grant has also been envisaged to support the opening of new businesses for young people aged until 35.
The 2013-2015 mid-term budget foresees the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 73 km of roads in apartment blocks, the construction of 128,250 m2 of green areas and recreational facilities, ten new sports facilities, 10,000 m2 in parking space, a sewerage collection system of 3.5 km, the planting of 25,000 trees, lighting, and the extension of public graveyard space by 2 hectares.
After 23 years, Tirana also has its new urban regulatory plan. The municipality says the urban plan will guarantee sustainable development for a modern European capital although chaotic developments for the past 20 years have already left their irreparable mark. Compiled after Lulzim Basha took over as Tirana Mayor, the new urban plan extends in two municipalities and 6 communes, envisaging seven development poles for Tirana.
Development poles are expected to be established with the extension of the current boulevard, at the hospital area, the Student campus, in the South-West area, the Aviation field, and the Kombinat and Kamza suburban areas.
Opposition leader and former Tirana Mayor Edi Rama has described the new urban development plan as “catastrophic and damaging Tirana’s future.”
