TIRANA, Sept 16 /ATA/ Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, outlined on Thursday the projects that will be implemented in the third term of office, which are designed to boost the movement of people and goods up to safety standards and deliver an impact on economic development and tourism.
The minister also focused on construction of several ports as part of the infrastructure development package.
The project on new commercial port in the area of Porto Romano, according to Balluku, will be completed at the end of October to follow through with international competitive bidding for its construction.
According to her, its implementation will take 36 months and the work will be delivered within this term.
She went on saying that the first and second phase of works on Durres port will be completed within the third term of office.
“The port of Vlora is one of the ports that will have the destination changed. It will be connected with the extension of Lungomare and turn into a yacht port. Meanwhile, the commercial port is relocated to the Triport area, creating an integrated port there. The construction of Triport entails the creation of an economic zone around the new port,” declared Balluku.
Both the construction of this port and the one in Porto Romano, the minister said, will be associated with a road infrastructure package, electrical substations necessary to supply the increased capacities, but of course the project includes the railway connections.
Regarding the development of air transport, minister Balluku stated that the construction site for Vlora airport, the biggest in the country, is expected to open by November.
“After the launch of operations at Kukës airport, the construction site for Vlora International Airport will be established by November. It will be the largest international airport in the country, with a 3.2 km-long runway. The project also entails the maintenance of aircraft, one of the nuclei of business, rolling out a new industry in this field, as well as the cargo service infrastructure.”
Saranda Airport, as a seasonal tourist airport, according to the feasibility study, is expected to handle a significant influx, starting from April through to October. According to Balluku, the airport will propel the entire southern Riviera into development.
Balluku informed that the competitive bidding process for construction of the Blue Corridor, otherwise known as the Adriatic-Ionian corridor, is slated to open in the months to come.
The competitive bidding process, she said, was opened several months ago to be postponed amid the pandemic restrictions. This corridor will not be delivered within this term of office.
Balluku emphasized, the part from the Kashar roundabout that joins the Tirana bypass down to Fier will be completed within this term. “Work will start immediately in the northern part, but given the length of this corridor the time line for its implementation will be longer,” said Balluku.
The Minister said that to complete this corridor one of the most important elements is the Gjirokastra bypass, for which we have applied for funding from the WBF to conduct a prior feasibility study.
“The construction of this bypass is the last part of the puzzle of this corridor from Muriqan to the border point of Kakavija,” Balluku said.
Regarding Tirana’s Ring Road, minister Balluku said that the work for its construction is expected to be delivered in 24 months.
“The Great Ring Road of Tirana is not an infrastructural work that serves only the capital, but it serves all Albanians as it connects with all the access highways in the capital, starting from Arbri Road, Tirana-Durrës, the North highway or that of Elbasan, ” declared Balluku.
Another sector that, according to Minister Balluku, is one of the most important components in the agenda of the government is the development of the railway sector.
She went on saying the work for construction of Tiranë-Durrës railway line with access to Rinas airport will kick off within this month.
“Regarding the railway sector, which is a priority of the European Commission, we have managed to complete the preparatory phase of the first project, which is the Tirana-Durrës line that will also access Rinas airport. “The work on the construction site is set to kick off within this month,” Balluku said.
/a.a/r.e/sm/
