The presentation of the project which supports development of the Adriatic-Ionian Railway Corridor, Čapljina-Trebinje-Nikšić, was held on Monday at a seminar in Sarajevo. It is expected that the route designed under this project will become a key communications artery of the Southern Balkans. The feasibility study for the railway link was funded by the European Union in the amount of 510,000 Euro.
The Čapljina-Trebinje-Nikšić line is part of the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor and will be crucial for economic development of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will open up new possibilities for connecting BiH with Montenegro, Croatia, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Albania and Greece. Agreement on the project among these countries will increase mobility of people and goods, contribute to development of economy and raise living standards of citizens. The project will connect three capitals cities: Sarajevo, Podgorica and Tirana and thus contribute to the overall regional development.
”This is a key project that will have an impact in terms of infrastructure and environmental protection,” said Renzo Daviddi, Acting Head of the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina. „I think it will be possible to realise the project through international financial institutions and through the means that Bosnia and Herzegovina has at disposal.“
Daviddi said there are various ways through which railway transport in the region could become profitable, and stressed that the development of appropriate ports in the Adriatic Sea is essential.
„In the Southwest Balkans, which is socially and economically much less developed than the north, communications infrastructure is 30, 40 or 50 years old, so we decided to undertake, together with the European Union, this study for construction of Čapljina-Trebinje-Nikšić railway link, with the possibility to connect also Dubrovnik, Neum and other towns, „explained Izet Bajrambašić, Assistant Minister at the BiH Ministry of Communications and Transport.
He stressed that the goal is to establish network that will be part of the European railway network, with the same standards that passengers in the EU enjoy.
A Memorandum on the feasibility study was signed on 5 March 2008 in Sarajevo, and consultant company INOCSA from Spain was selected in tender procedure to implement this project.
