“Last year, €7,200,000 revenue was achieved, which is 1% more than in 2013. Due to an increase in the number of vehicles and income, it is considered to be a good result particularly given the overall business environment and the weaker performance of many entities in Montenegro. We have also successfully continued the first quarter of 2015 – the revenues increased 12.5% compared to the same period last year. The data show that the construction of the tunnel was a visionary decision which justified expectations and that investment in infrastructure should continue,” Mr Nurkovic said.
The construction of the tunnel Sozina cost about €74 million, €50 million of which was provided by Montenegro, whereas the European Investment Bank approved a €24 million loan.
“The annual instalment of the loan including the interest amounts to about €2.2 million, and it is to be paid off by 2030. The loan will be repaid in accordance with the agreed repayment schedule and the annual instalment will be less each year, given that the majority of interest to the loan was repaid earlier,” Mr Nurkovic said.
The tunnel Sozina is located on the corridor of the highway Bar-Podgorica-Andrijevica-Boljare and it connects coastal region with the central part of Montenegro. The tunnel is 4,189m long, while the entrance gates are located at 192 meters above sea level.
“The tunnel is in excellent condition, but daily care and maintenance are needed. Ten years is quite a long period and it is necessary, due to deterioration, obsolescence and introduction of modern technical achievements, to continuously monitor and invest in the tunnel, in order for it to be safe for citizens and functional, as it was until now,” Mr Nurkovic said, adding that €5,296,786 was invested in the facility from 2006 to 2014 and that depreciation for the period amounted to €1,118,630.
