The winner of the tender on the realization of the V쳭ic뮍erdare highway that will link Kosovo to Albania is expected to be revealed by the end of October 2009. This according to an interview with the Vice-Minister of Transports of Kosovo, Adem Grabovci (Kosovo Sot, 29.09.2009).
“One of the priorities of our government is infrastructure development. ŠIt will influence positively in the improvement of the quality of life and the economic development”, says Grabovci. According to the Minister, last year (in 2008), 618 kilometers of roads were constructed or reconstructed in Kosovo. They represented a total of 176 projects. The Minister says that some of these projects were engaged in reconstructing existing roads, but the majority engaged in building new roads.
Lower costs than in Albania
The Vice-Minister of Transports of Kosovo, Adem Grabovci, believes the cost of the constructed roads to have been lower in comparison to many countries in the region, including Albania. “Compare similar projects in the region in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [FYROM], Albania, Montenegro and you will see that the cost at which we work is many times lower”, says Grabovci.
It seems though, that no details on the costs or no comparative tables have been forthcoming.
Making the connection to the Adriatic Sea count
Connecting the highways of Albania and Kosovo will create a larger regional affect with possibilities of interconnections between Serbia, Hungary and Albania, and a northern hook-up connection to European corridors.
“The V쳭ic뮍erdare highway is the number one priority. It is of capital importance not only for us, but also for the whole region. This highway will offer access to the Adriatic Sea to many countries in the region and with the construction of this highway, we are not the only benefactors,” says the Minister.
But the number one highway is not the only road project in Prishtin롵nderway in the capital of Kosovo. Projects connecting the capital to important cities in Kosovo and to FYROM are also under way.
“Of paramount importance are also the highways connecting Prishtin롴o Pej롡nd Prishtin롴o Mitrovic뮠We are also preparing the project for the highway connecting Prishtin롴o Shkup (Skoplje) in the FYROM. ŠA long-experienced French company is finishing details of an application plan. This project will be handed to the Ministry in a short time. ŠThese are the most important projects but this does not mean that we will neglect or put in the shadow projects of local roads, without whom the highways would not have all their importance”, says Grabovci.
Beginning work in 2009
While Albania has finished an important part of the highway connecting the country to Kosovo and the new road is travelable over large segments, the beginning of the work in Kosovo is expected to start before the end of the current year. Seven road-construction companies have been short-listed and the tender is expected to reveal its winner in the coming days.
“I expect the proclamation of the winning company that will construct the V쳭ic뮍erdare highway by the end of October and will begin the construction-works before the end of the year”, says the Vice-Minister of Transports of Kosovo.
What will it cost?
While the Ministry of Transports of Kosovo claims that it has registered lower construction costs than the other regional countries, no cost estimates have yet come out. Cost-expectations and the technical details of the project have been reviewed by a foreign consulting company. But the tendering is not yet over and the Minister holds competition as an ally in the fixing of costs.
“The cost will be determined by the market. The Ministry has no power to determine the cost. To date, 7 companies with experience in such constructions have been selected. They are actually in competition and we will examine their offers as regards the cost of the project”, says Grabovci.
How will it be financed?
As press and opposition parties show concern on the cost of the project, the Vice-Minister of Transports of Kosovo, Adem Grabovci suggests a number of possible “soft” ways to finance the realization of the project.
“Our budgetary means are very limited, be it in reference to this project or to other projects. Our goal is not to put at risk our poor budget and to meet by it other important needs. We have thought and let open other possibilities to finance the project, such as concession-giving, public and private partnership, as well as the possibility of securing a soft credit”, says Grabovci.
