ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - The draft strategy of traffic development in Croatia envisages investments in the traffic system amounting to some US$19.9 billion (five per cent of Gross Domestic Product) by the year 2010. The strategy is
aimed at integrating Croatia into Europe and establishing links between Croatian regions, said Zeljko Luzavec, Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications. Luzavec was speaking at the 38th session of the Croatian National Sabor's House of Representatives, which resumed in Zagreb on Thursday. Luzavec named three priorities in road traffic - increasing the level of road maintenance, to be financed with 40 per cent of the total road funding; improving and reconstructing the county and local road network, which would take 15 per cent of the funding; and building motorways and semi-motorways. Croatia currently has 475 km of such roads and the traffic strategy envis
ZAGREB, March 4 (Hina) - The draft strategy of traffic development
in Croatia envisages investments in the traffic system amounting to
some US$19.9 billion (five per cent of Gross Domestic Product) by
the year 2010.
The strategy is aimed at integrating Croatia into Europe and
establishing links between Croatian regions, said Zeljko Luzavec,
Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications.
Luzavec was speaking at the 38th session of the Croatian National
Sabor's House of Representatives, which resumed in Zagreb on
Thursday.
Luzavec named three priorities in road traffic - increasing the
level of road maintenance, to be financed with 40 per cent of the
total road funding; improving and reconstructing the county and
local road network, which would take 15 per cent of the funding; and
building motorways and semi-motorways.
Croatia currently has 475 km of such roads and the traffic strategy
envisages the construction of another 400 km by 2005, to be financed
with 45 per cent of all funds.
Luzavec believes that railways are the most serious problem because
of the US$350 million war damage and a decrease in traffic to one
third of pre-war operations. A project of railway reorganisation
and modernisation should be implemented in the next five years,
said Luzavec adding that the project was backed by the World and
European Banks.
Of the planned funds for traffic development, 40 per cent would be
earmarked for roads and road traffic (which is two per cent of the
GDP). Another 25 per cent would be set aside for railways, 20 per
cent for maritime and river traffic, five per cent for air traffic
and 10 per cent for modernisation.
The most expensive roads in the European corridors would be built
with foreign capital, Luzavec said. Concessions are direct foreign
capital investments but they require serious preparations, he
added. Three concessions are currently under way - for the Zagreb-
Gorican, Zagreb-Rijeka and the Istrian Y projects, Luzavec said.
The Government backs the Istrian Y project, the Minister said
adding though that there is a possibility that the contract might be
revised, which was being negotiated.
The Lower House will today also discuss a bill on limiting the use of
tobacco products.
(hina) rml