Monteput highway projects face delays and new subcontractor rules

The development of the Bar-Boljare highway in Montenegro is facing delays regarding conceptual projects. Data from the Action for Social Justice (ASP) indicates that state-owned Monteput has paid approximately 1.85 million euros for three conceptual projects, yet the selected consortiums have failed to meet original deadlines, requiring contract extensions through various annexes.

The most expensive contract, exceeding 4.4 million euros, is for the Andrijevica-Berane-Boljare section, led by the CDS Project consortium. Other projects include the Podgorica-Bar section via Virpazar-Stari Bar, managed by the Belgrade-based Saobraćajni institut CIP, and the Smokovac-Tološi section.

Regarding the construction of the second section from Mateševo to Andrijevica, Monteput has signed a 693.97 million euro contract with the Chinese consortium PowerChina-Stecol-PCCD. To encourage local involvement, Monteput has stipulated that domestic subcontractors must have been registered in the country before January 1, 2023. Currently, two subcontractors have been approved: VS Infra DESIGN from Belgrade for field research and design, and Keker from Kolašin for access roads.