RIJEKA, Sept 2 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday that loans for the construction of highways would bring profit in the future because they were intended for development projects rather than for day-to-day
spending.
RIJEKA, Sept 2 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan said on Tuesday
that loans for the construction of highways would bring profit in
the future because they were intended for development projects
rather than for day-to-day spending. #L#
Speaking at a session of the government's Roads Commission in
Rijeka, Racan stressed the strategic importance of the Rijeka-
Zagreb highway, saying that it connected Western Europe and the
south of Croatia.
"At a time when terrorism has become the threat of the century in an
unsafe world, countries that can be easily accessed by land rather
than by air will be more attractive," the prime minister said.
"Without a road infrastructure there is no development of the
economy and tourism, and this government has made a historic step
forward" in this context, he added.
Racan went on to say that the construction of one kilometre of the
ring road around Rijeka cost US$16.5 million, while one kilometre
of the Rijeka-Zagreb highway cost US$6.5 million. He attributed
such a large discrepancy in the costs to the complexity of works and
the configuration of terrain.
Zoran Klaric, manager of the Rijeka-Zagreb Highway project, said
that EUR288 million was secured in long-term loans from development
banks with government guarantees for the construction of the
highway. He said that the project would be profitable in the long
run.
Racan said that the Roads Commission took on responsibility to
complete the Rijeka ring road before the end of 2007, which would
resolve transport and economic problems of Rijeka, Primorje County
and the entire country.
(hina) vm sb