“Halt in the construction of the Hranjen tunnel” was the topic of the press conference held at the construction site, a few hundred meters in front of the entrance tube of the tunnel from the direction of Gorazde, by the head of the club of representatives of the SDP in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Parliament, Damir Masic, and the mayor of Gorazde, Ernest Imamovic.
Pointing out the importance of this project for the entire country, they called on the authorities to provide answers as to why the construction of the Hranjen tunnel is stalling.
Masic reminded that a year has passed since, as he said, the entire affair surrounding the Hranjen tunnel was discovered, noting that none of the planned deadlines, which were established by the FBiH Government and the previous management of the FBiH Highway, were met.
“A year later, despite the session of the FBiH Parliament held at our insistence, the entire project literally stands still. It is time to remind them of the importance of this project for Eastern Bosnia, Gorazde and the entire country. What we are all looking for together is whether and when an answer will be given as to who is responsible for what happened, when the work will continue, how much it will cost together, because unfortunately we are witnessing that after the discovery of the affair, everything stands still for a year,” emphasized Masic.
He reminded that he, as a member of the FBiH Parliament, and Ernest Imamovic, as the mayor of Gorazde, have continuously called on the authorities to provide answers to the questions about what is happening with the Hranjen tunnel in the past year.
He assessed that the problem of the Hranjen tunnel is not a problem of the current team and the director of the FBiH Highway because, as he said, he became the director when the problem was exposed. According to him, they will be responsible for things that will happen in the future.
Masic reminded that the contract for the construction of the tunnel was signed in the midst of the election campaign in September 2018, and that only half a year after the signing, the grandiose project was formally announced by Prime Minister Novalic, and that the works started a year after the signing.
“Two short years after that, we found out that 97 percent of the funds had been spent and that only one third of the first LOT had been realized, and that there were no funds. At the November session, we adopted conclusions through the Parliament, where we asked to determine the responsibility of those who led to why the project is at a standstill. Eight months have passed, and we still don’t know who will bear the responsibility for what happened,” he pointed out, among other things.
According to him, it is confusing to learn that the project will no longer cost 85 million, which was originally announced, but more than 200 million or, as he said, according to those in the know, 300 million, while at the same time the FBiH Government provides only 32 million this year. He added that in this way, he wants to exert strong pressure on everyone, not only to continue construction, but to invest more seriously in this project.
Among other things, the mayor of Gorazde, Ernest Imamovic, reminded of the importance of the road connection project between Gorazde and Sarajevo, calling on the authorities to give answers about what is happening with the Hranjen tunnel.
“This must be explained to the citizens of Gorazde, because this road means life for the residents who stayed here. This time is not only significant for Goražde and FBiH, but also for the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the entire region. We are looking for answers as to why this project is treated with 32 million marks. Every year that passes is important to us, we have to explain to the public what is happening with the tunnel. I invite all authorities, from Prime Minister Novalic and the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, representatives of Autocest, BPC and others to give us answers to the questions. They are obliged to explain to the citizens what is happening with the Hranjen tunnel,” said Imamovic.
