On Friday, Minister of Construction Branko Bačić, accompanied by state secretaries and associates, visited several post-earthquake reconstruction sites of state and multi-dwelling buildings in the centre of Zagreb, highlighting his satisfaction with the course of the reconstruction, which is carried out to a high standard and within the timeframes specified.
The visit started at the construction site of a state-owned public building at the location of Gundulićeva 2 - Ilica 25. This building was built at the beginning of the 20th century. It used to be the Croatian-Slavonian Central Savings Bank and later it accommodated offices of state and city administration. Its comprehensive reconstruction started in November 2023 with the completion date set for late April 2026. The building undergoes structural and energy efficiency renovation, while funding is secured through the EU Solidarity Fund, NRRP and the state budget.
The Minister pointed out that the project is highly demanding and challenging, worth 43 million euro, and that he is confident the timeframes will be met, since the structural renovation is virtually done and comprehensive reconstruction tasks now take place.
The building encompasses almost 8000 square metres and after the reconstruction it will be used to accommodate the needs of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets.
The Minister then visited three private multi-dwelling buildings in Jurišićeva Street. The building at numbers 10 and 18 undergo structural renovation, while the building at the number 26 undergoes a comprehensive renovation, i.e. both structural and energy efficiency renovation, since it represents protected cultural property. He said the works are also advancing in accordance with the timeframes specified and the contractors have proven to be competent.
The building at Jurišićeva 10, built in 1889, comprises a ground floor, three floors and an attic and it entails four housing units, seven business units and one housing-business unit. The reconstruction is carried out in an organised manner through structural rehabilitation.
The building at Jurišićeva 18, built in 1887, comprises five floors, five housing units and two business units. It undergoes reconstruction through the model of structural self-repair.
The final location, Jurišićeva 26, includes protected cultural property built at the beginning of the 20th century. The building comprises a basement, a ground floor, four floors and an attic and it entails a total of 22 separate units. This location undergoes a comprehensive reconstruction - structural and energy efficiency renovation.
“The morning I have spent at these four locations has made me confident that construction operatives in Croatia, together with us as contracting authorities and investors, can carry out the works to a high standard and within the timeframes specified, which is very important. I have to say that we are now satisfied with the reconstruction in the City of Zagreb - not only in the very city centre, but in the Lower Town and the northern part of Zagreb as well - Bačić said to reporters after the visit.
“Co-owners representatives at two locations pointed out that the new Building Management and Maintenance Act facilitates coordination and enables better cooperation with co-owners. Buildings which do not represent cultural property but are also co-financed by the state, advance rapidly because the co-owners took the initiative to organise and push forward the completion of the works,” the Minister added.
To those citizens whose reconstruction is still in progress and therefore do not share the same enthusiasm, the Minister expressed gratitude for their patience and understanding.
It is worth recalling that, since the beginning of the reconstruction following the earthquakes in Zagreb and Petrinja, a total of 3.91 billion euro was spent - 2.27 billion euro for the Zagreb earthquake and 1.64 billion euro for the Petrinja earthquake.
Post-earthquake reconstruction is completed for 13,612 locations - 12,859 private buildings and houses which comprise a total of 50,803 separate units, and 753 reconstruction projects for public buildings and infrastructure. A total of 426 houses were built, while 239 houses are under construction. A total of 1,818 construction sites are active - 1,653 for private objects and 165 for public buildings and infrastructure.
In the Zagreb area the reconstruction is completed at over 3,500 locations and over 400 reconstruction projects for public buildings and infrastructure are completed. The reconstruction is in progress at over 630 locations, the majority of which refers to more complex structural renovations.
“This year we have initiated large block reconstruction. We have planned 12 blocks, mostly in the city of Zagreb, Lower Town, and some in Sisak. This block reconstruction was the basis for inviting construction operatives to engage in order to, for instance, ensure reconstruction for over 200, 250 housing units under one procurement,” the Minister pointed out.
The reconstruction of Mali Vatikan, which entails Martićeva, Vlaška and Bauerova Street and Ratkaj Passage follows this principle and is nearing completion, he added. Other blocks in Zagreb will now undergo the same procedure.
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