Mandate letter signed with EBRD for the construction of a tram line to Hrasnica

Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Edin Forto and Minister of Transport of KS Adnan Šteta today signed a mandate letter from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with Matteo Colangeli, Regional Director of the EBRD for the Western Balkans, for the project of constructing a tram line to Hrasnica.

"Another great day for the transport infrastructure of our canton. Citizens have been waiting for this for decades, and I am proud that the time has come for the tram line to Hrasnica. The government has previously expressed its commitment to green policies, and this project will certainly contribute to its development, as well as to the improvement of electric public transport. Cooperation with the EBRD is of utmost importance to us, and I am grateful that they recognize our projects, which raise the standard of living for the citizens of Sarajevo," said Prime Minister Forto.

The mandate letter is the first step towards the realization of this project.

"This is my first visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I am happy to be signing this mandate letter for such a significant project for Sarajevo Canton. It will include the extension of the tram line by almost 13 kilometers, which is almost 50% of the existing length. More importantly, it will connect a large suburban area with the city and utilize its residential and business potential, while also ensuring cleaner, more efficient, and faster public transport in the city," stated Director Colangeli.

The Ministry of Transport of Sarajevo Canton is implementing a number of projects through the EBRD that will improve public transport, and the tram line construction project is just one of them.

"In the first part of my term, in 2019, I raised this issue, which is why I am even prouder today that we have reached the signing of the mandate letter, marking a significant step in improving public transport. We plan to build a tram line from Ilidža to Hrasnica, 12.96 kilometers long, build 20 tram stops, and a turning loop at the roundabout in Ilidža. Today we signed the mandate letter, and by the end of this year, we expect the tender to be announced and other activities that will lead us to the day when construction work on this significant project, which has been talked about for the last 40 years, will begin," concluded Minister Šteta.

Manuela Naessl, EBRD Director for BiH, emphasized the importance of joint work on promoting green cities.

"We are pleased to see that the Canton remains committed to improving the standard of living by providing better access to public transport, which will also positively impact air quality in Sarajevo. We truly appreciate the good cooperation with the Canton within the framework of the Green Cities Action Plan. We will work together on the realization of these projects," stated Director Naessl.

The value of the project for the construction of the tram line to Hrasnica is 20 million EUR, and the funds will be provided through a loan from the EBRD, in accordance with whose Rules and Procedures procurement will be carried out in the coming period.