Completion of the South Stand of Grbavica Stadium by the End of the Year

(Patria) - On the occasion of the continuation of the construction of the South Stand and the signing of the Annex to the contract for the execution of additional works on this significant infrastructure project, a press conference was held today in the Blue Salon of the Grbavica Stadium.

The attending journalists were addressed by the Minister of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton Kenan Magoda, Director of the Institute for Construction of Sarajevo Canton Belma Barlov, Mayor of Novo Sarajevo Municipality Benjamina Karić, and Director of FK Željezničar Haris Slato.

Minister Magoda says the administrative part of the process has been completed and that an Annex to the contract has been signed, securing an additional one million KM for unforeseen works.

- We have completed the bureaucratic part and secured additional funds for the project's realization. The project value is no longer 4.7, but exceeds 5.5 million KM. The remaining obligation of FK Željezničar is to secure the seats so that we can fully complete the South Stand.

As with any large infrastructure project, challenges arise that require additional solutions. This is not about a lack of funds or problems in the execution of works, but about the specificities of the terrain.

It is important that everything is done with quality and safety. When completed, the South Stand will be one of the highest quality and most stable stands, and the Grbavica Stadium will be a step towards meeting UEFA standards - Magoda stated.

Mayor Karić explained that the need for additional financing arose due to unforeseen works during the project's execution.

- For large capital infrastructure projects, it is quite common for circumstances that cannot be foreseen to arise during the execution of works. In this case, the need for additional funds within the legally permitted 10 percent of the contract value for unforeseen works emerged.

The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton previously announced that it would secure one million KM for these purposes, and today we can confirm that this promise has been fulfilled and that the Annex to the contract has been signed - Karić said.

She particularly emphasized the importance of the joint work of all participants on the project and satisfaction with the dynamics of the works.

- During the execution, we encountered the existing sewage and stormwater network beneath the stand, which led to the decision to simultaneously carry out a complete reconstruction and construction of a new sewage infrastructure.

This ensures the long-term stability and quality of the facility. The second part of the unforeseen works relates to additional quantities and types of construction materials needed for the project's realization - the mayor explained.

She added that the implementation of these activities requires negotiation procedures in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement, which affected the extension of the works deadline.

- We expect the South Stand to be completed by the end of the year. The most important thing is that the works are carried out with quality, expertise, and in accordance with all regulations - Karić emphasized.

Director Barlov emphasized that this is an extremely demanding infrastructure project designed by Mladen Gvozden, an experienced Bosnian-Herzegovinian architect.

- During the works, elements of the stormwater drainage and groundwater were identified that were not recorded in the project documentation, which required additional design solutions, obtaining necessary approvals, and carrying out appropriate administrative procedures - Barlov explained.

Director Slato pointed out that the reconstruction of the sewage network will permanently solve the long-standing problems of flooding in the stadium premises.

- We are aware that the fans are eagerly awaiting the completion of the works, but we are not building a weekend cottage but a stand that needs to safely accommodate about 5,000 of the most passionate fans. That is precisely why quality and safety must be paramount.

Whoever criticizes the people involved in the realization of this project is actually criticizing the greatest friends of FK Željezničar. This is the largest infrastructure project at our stadium since the end of the war.

On behalf of the Club, I want to thank all the participants who are dedicatedly working on its realization. This is a significantly more complex project than the construction of the East Stand, and therefore we ask the fans for patience. What we are building today will remain as a legacy for generations to come for the next 50 or 100 years - Slato says.

The conference participants agreed that the works are proceeding according to the planned dynamics relative to the circumstances encountered on the ground, and that the common goal of all partners is for the South Stand to be completed by the end of the year, with the highest standards of quality, safety, and functionality.