The construction of the highway from Tuzla to Orasje is one of the most important capital projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Its realization is not even on the horizon, and the deadline for the preparation of the main project has long passed, justified by administrative problems.
Citizens of the Tuzla Canton (TC), especially entrepreneurs, have been waiting for 50 years for roads befitting this region of BiH.
In previous years, the realization of major projects was optimistically announced, among them the construction of the highway from Tuzla to Orasje.
The implementation of the contract for the preparation, or rather the completion of the conceptual and main project for the Orasje – Tuzla highway, section Tuzla – Maoca, has faced serious delays.
Although the deadline for completing the main project was planned for mid-2024, realization has not occurred due to administrative obstacles, namely the inability to convert agricultural and forest land into construction land, which is a condition for issuing an urban planning approval.
This information was stated in a response from the Public Company Motorways of the Federation of BiH (FBiH), in response to a question submitted by the representative in the House of Representatives of the Parliament of FBiH, Admir Cavalic.
“Although the deadline for preparing the main project was mid-2024, due to the inability to convert agricultural and forest land into construction land, and thus issue urban planning approvals, delays have occurred in the realization of the project. In the coming period,Public Company Motorways of the FBiH will initiate the procedure for obtaining urban planning approvals for certain parts of the future Orasje – Tuzla highway, section Tuzla – Maoca,” the response stated.
Meanwhile, according to Highways of FBiH, while the Tuzla – Maoca section remains stalled, the 2025 business plan foresees activities on other projects: construction of express roads Doboj Istok – Gracanica – Sicki Brod and Sicki Brod – Dubrave – Kalesija – entity line.
“Contracts for these projects have been signed, and their implementation is already underway,” claim Motorways of FBiH.
Namely, this is not the first time that the Tuzla to Orasje highway project has encountered problems. Activities were also stalled two years ago due to a discovered mineral field through which the Tuzla to Srebrenik section would pass, prompting additional geostatic analyses that slowed the project.
This development once again raises questions about efficiency in the preparation and coordination of infrastructure projects in the FBiH, where administrative obstacles and complicated land conversion procedures pose key constraints to strategic projects, Klix.ba writes.
