The City Council of the City of Sarajevo unanimously adopted on Wednesday, on the proposal of Mayor Abdulah Skaka, a decision that allows the resolution of all property and legal relations necessary for the reconstruction of the National Monument of Old Railway Station Bistrik.
These are key decisions leading to the renovation of this monument and a representative architectural building. Mayor Skaka welcomed this decision.
“This is somehow a positive precedent. We have secured the money from the revenues of the cable car, now we will use it for added value, to solve the housing question of citizens who live in inhumane conditions near Bistrik station, while at the same time opening the door for the reconstruction of this important monument, which will be the pride of all Sarajevans,” said Sarajevo Mayor.
The station on Bistrik was built back in 1906, and it is considerably damaged by the time, and only ruins are left from one part of the building. It was declared as the national monument in 2006, and the Mayor of Sarajevo Abdulah Skaka noted that several levels of government will be included in the process of its reconstruction, but also that a good communication was achieved with potential donors and partners.
The building of the railway station on Bistrik was constructed after the Austro-Hungarian authorities connected Sarajevo with Slavonski Brod and Budapest by the railroad back in 1882. The need to connect the eastern parts of BiH with Sarajevo appeared then, and military garrisons were stationed along the border with Serbia.
It became one of the symbols of the city on Miljacka River, and it found a special place on postcards of Sarajevo.
This building was also featured in several films about partisans, and the most famous scene is from the movie Walter Defends Sarajevo, which made it famous.
