During the first phase of the project, and a part of the second phase, vehicle barriers were installed at nine locations: Sebilj, Bravadžiluk, Halači, Abadžiluk, Prote Bakovića, Kundurdžiluk, Market Fra Grge Martića, Mula Mustafe Bašeskije and the former building of Feroelektro and Trg oslobođenja – Alija Izetbegović.
The official presentation of the project was held today at Abadžiluk, and the test phase of the project will last throughout the next 15 days.
The mayor of Stari Grad, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić, gave a short speech and handed coded cards to the representatives of the ambulance Stari Grad, the Professional Fire Brigade of Sarajevo Canton, DVD Vratnik, burial societies “Bakije” and “Jedileri” and KJKP “Rad”, enabling them to access any part of the city in spite of the barriers.
“This project started back in 2007 when the municipality of Stari Grad had already participated and paid 270,000 KM. However, unfortunately they were never able to finish it. Now, the Municipality Stari Grad has assumed responsibility for regulating the barriers” said the mayor of Stari Grad, Ibrahim Hadžibajrić.
The whole project should have been completed by April, but the mayor said they were late due to bad weather conditions.
“The old town will now be hermetically sealed. We just have to set up two more barriers in the lower part of the municipality, near the Cathedral and Alija Izetbegović Square. This is the only way we can prevent the entry of vehicles into the old part of the city, and I hope, with the assistance of the police that it will work, and that there will be no more problems,” added Hadžibajrić.
Owners of shops in that region will be provided with coded cards enabling them to drive there between 6 and 9 am, and from 11 pm to 1 am. However, they will have to pay for those cards annually.
“Each barrier also has video surveillance so as to prevent damage from vandals and hooligans, which is specific to Sarajevo, thus enabling us to react and identify those people” said the mayor.
(Source: S. Dž./Radiosarajevo.ba)
