The HZ Infrastruktura company, specialised in the management, maintenance and building of railway infrastructure, said in October 2015 that it had selected a Croatian consortium consisting of Dalekovod, Zagreb-Montaza and DIV to perform HRK 1.3 billion work on the 38.2-kilometre long rail line from Dugo Selo to Krizevci. HZ Infrastruktura stated then that the project was co-financed by the European Union. The value of the entire project is estimated at HRK 1.52 billion, of which 85% is to be provided by the European Regional Development Fund and 15% by Croatia.
However, another two bidders -- Swietelsky Baugesellschaft from Austria and a union of Spanish bidders Comsa and Acciona Mantenimiento de Infraestructuras -- appealed against HZ Infrastruktura's decision.
The regulator accepted the appeals and ordered HZ Infrastruktura to compensate the Austrian and Spanish bidders for the cost of the appeals proceedings in the amount of 100,000 kuna.
HZ Infrastruktura said that the HKOM's ruling did not mean the abolishment of the tender but that HZ Infrastruktura must reopen the procedure for the selection of the best bidder.
The project consists of the construction of a new 38-kilometre track of the future electrified double-track railway with 17 new level crossings and two pedestrian crossings and other necessary infrastructure as well as the reconstruction of four railway stations and stops. The overhauled double-track railway will shorten the travel time by 12 minutes, from 30 to 18 minutes.
The value of the construction and upgrading work is estimated at HRK 1.3 billion, while other work such as supervision of the work and settling property relations in the area concerned increase the cost to a total of 1.52 billion.
(EUR 1 = HRK 7.6)