EXCISE FUNDS SHOULD BE ALLOCATED FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF THE FOČA-SARAJEVO ROAD

FOČA, JULY 31 /SRNA/ - Mayors of municipalities from East Sarajevo to Višegrad are calling for excise tax revenues to be redirected toward the reconstruction of the Foča–Sarajevo road, currently considered the most dangerous road in BiH, Foča Mayor Milan Vukadinović said today.

Speaking after a meeting held in Foča, Vukadinović stated that the condition of both main and regional roads throughout the region is alarming. He said they are urging the relevant institutions, the Republika Srpska Roads company, the Government of Republika Srpska, and the Council of Ministers, to secure funding for the implementation of their conclusions. “Our first conclusion is that Republika Srpska Roads must urgently, even today, send experts and field teams to assess the situation and compile reports on the safety of the Foča–Sarajevo road, and that the public should be informed upon completion of the assessment,” Vukadinović told reporters in Foča. Following expert analysis, Vukadinović said, Republika Srpska Roads should allocate a minimum of BAM 500,000 to secure critical points along the route where landslides frequently occur. “We demand the immediate installation of appropriate traffic signage in this area to warn drivers of potential landslides,” said Vukadinović. The key demand, Vukadinović added, is to secure funding as soon as possible for the complete reconstruction of the Foča–Sarajevo road section. "In that regard, we also appeal to Republika Srpska Roads, the Government of Republika Srpska, and the Council of Ministers, given that this is part of the international corridor Sarajevo–Podgorica–Tirana," said Vukadinović. Vukadinović added that at today’s meeting, they also discussed the proposal of the Kalinovik mayor to use the Miljevina–Kalinovik–Dobro Polje road as an alternative route in case of emergency construction work on the Foča–Sarajevo road. "I discussed this issue with the mayors of municipalities in the Federation of BiH as well, primarily Foča/Ustikolina and Goražde. We are facing the same problems and are calling for excise funds or those 'frozen funds' to be redirected toward this corridor, which is of vital importance for everyone," Vukadinović emphasized.