- Published: 05.05.2018.
PM Plenkovic announces EUR 270 million worth of investments in Split-Dalmatia County
The Croatian government was meeting in the southern coastal city of Split on Friday to decide on a number of projects of importance to the city and the county, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said that this was a strong message to that area.
Speaking at the start of the government meeting, Plenkovic said that contracts worth over 400 million kuna (54 million euros) would be signed today and that nearly two billion kuna (270 million euros) would be invested in the area through numerous projects.
The meeting was taking place ahead of the Feast of St Domnius, Split's patron saint, and was mainly devoted to the development of the city and Split-Dalmatia County.
Plenkovic noted that this was the fifth government session during his term that was taking place outside Zagreb. "All we are doing is in a spirit of partnership and cooperation," he said.
The meeting was attended by all cabinet ministers, members of the national parliament from Split-Dalmatia County, the head of the county, Blazenko Boban (HDZ), and the mayor Andro Krstulovic Opara (HDZ).
"The government is meeting in Split after a full 14 years," Boban said, announcing major transport infrastructure projects, such as the construction of two tunnels and two roads. He said that the focus would also be on ensuring sustainable tourism, extending the tourist season and connecting Split's hinterland with the coast.
The government decided to support three large-scale infrastructure projects with an estimated value of almost HRK 3 billion that would be implemented in Split and Transport and Infrastructure Minister Oleg Butkovic said that activities would be taken to include the projects in the list of strategic investment projects.
One of those projects is a fast speed railway between the railway station and ferry port to Split airport as well as the construction of a new central railway station with an estimated value of HRK 1.1 billion, Butkovic said.
An additional HRK 2 billion is estimated to be needed for a new multimodal platform for the Solin-Stobrec-Dugi Rat-Omis, Split agglomeration, which would resolve the problem of the lack of a bypass road in the Split area.
The government also gave the thumbs up for a project for the construction of a new access and exit road from the ferry port and a new exit on the A1 motorway leading to the ferry port. This project is estimated to cost HRK 81 million.
Several other projects were endorsed with the government's conclusions including a project for the Dracevac barracks to be transformed into a technology park with part of the property being returned to Split-Makarska Catholic Diocese, State Assets Minister Goran Maric explained.
The government also decided to grant about 196,000 square meters on the slopes of Mt Mosor for the construction of apartments for veterans and members of the academic community. Maric estimates that the value of that land amounts to about HRK 49 million.
Environment Protection Minister Tomislav Coric explained that the project to rehabilitate the Karepovac landfill would cost HRK 187 million, while the first phase which is currently underway is estimated at HRK 68 million.
Coric added that the government supported the construction of the Lecevica waste management plant with a value of HRK 592 million.
Text: Hina