The Croatian Highways company had invited bids for the construction of the 9.7 kilometre four-lane road connecting the Ploce road hub with the Ploce port, and a consortium consisting of the companies Konstruktor Inzenjering, Hidorelektra Niskogradnja, Viadukt and Strabag was chosen as the best bidder. The price offered by the consortium was around 743 million kuna, while the projected construction costs were 750 million kuna, the ministry said in a statement, adding that the price was optimal considering the complexity of the terrain.
MP Pancic said earlier in the day that the price of the road was as much as 10 million euros per kilometre, while the Zagreb-Split highway cost around six million euros per kilometre.
Pancic also said that apart from the companies Konstruktor and Hidorelektra, which won the contract, three small companies had also won contracts to take part in the project, despite the fact that they lacked the necessary machines and manpower.
Pancic called on PM Ivo Sanader to state if he was aware of criminal activity in the road construction sector.
Pancic said that last week he had submitted to the State Prosecutor's Office documents proving criminal activities in the construction of the Gazenica-Zadar 2 road and a quarry near Skabrnja, and that he was also willing to submit evidence on the road Ploce junction - Ploce port.