KOJIĆ: PALE UNDERGOING MAJOR EXPANSION, CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND CAPITAL PROJECTS

PALE, AUGUST 26 /SRNA/ – Pale Mayor Dejan Kojić said that Pale is undergoing major expansion in terms of construction and investment in infrastructure, announcing the continuation of capital projects, the most important of which is a new district heating plant worth around EUR 10 million, for which the signing of a construction agreement is expected as early as September.

Kojić told SRNA that the new heating plant is of great importance for Pale, not only because it will modernize the heating system but also because it will contribute to the redevelopment of the area in the city centre.

"Three million Euros have been secured as a grant from the Government of Switzerland, while seven million Euros will be provided through borrowing by the Municipality of Pale," Kojić specified.

According to him, the new heating plant will be built opposite the Srbija Elementary School, on the left bank of the Miljacka River, while the biomass storage facility will be located at Turistička Ravan or within the premises of the Famos factory, where wood chips will be processed.

On the occasion of the municipality's patron saint day – Velika Gospojina /the Dormition of the Mother of God/, Kojić said that a significant number of projects had been completed over the past year and a half, both with funds from the municipal budget and with support from the Republika Srpska Government and Istočno Sarajevo City.

"We renovated the central area of Pale and built collectors on Jahorina and Dvorišta. A large number of streets in Mokro, Podvitez, towards Bogovići and in other parts of the municipality have also been paved and reconstructed," Kojić said.

He announced that a public procurement procedure would be launched as early as next week for paving the biathlon track on Dvorišta and the parking lot next to the sports hall, as well as for the second phase of the renovation of the Police Administration building.

"An academic park will also be built this year. Istočno Sarajevo City has built a magnificent roundabout, while the Republika Srpska Roads Enterprise has completed a new layer of asphalt from the roundabout to the Kalovita Brda tunnel. A second roundabout has also been announced near the Bartula shopping centre," Kojić said.


NEW KINDERGARTEN FOR 180 CHILDREN FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF SRPSKA PRESIDENT

He said that a new kindergarten with capacity for 180 children is being built in Pale, a major project fully funded by the Office of Republika Srpska President, whose completion will enable all children to be enrolled.

Kojić said that the kindergarten will cover around 5,000 square meters, and that in addition to construction of the building, the project includes complete landscaping of the surrounding area, including a playground with swings and seesaws, as well as furniture and kitchen equipment.

He stressed that construction of the new kindergarten is extremely important, given that around 120 children could not be enrolled in the public kindergarten this year. He added that the Municipality of Pale is allocating BAM 1.35 million this year for the operation of the public kindergarten, while around BAM 200,000 is provided annually in subsidies for private kindergartens attended by 195 children.


CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN PALE DOWNTOWN AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Kojić says he expects support from higher levels of government for the municipality's continued development, because the municipal budget of BAM 27 million to BAM 28 million is largely spent on operating costs, leaving only around BAM 1.5 million for infrastructure investments.

"We expect the Republika Srpska Government, the Republika Srpska Roads and Istočno Sarajevo City to continue investing in Pale," Kojić said.

He announced the continuation of the redevelopment of the downtown, noting that previous investments had contributed to an increase in the number of tourists and the revitalization of the town. As a result, Pale is increasingly becoming a desirable place to live, as evidenced by the intensive residential construction.


DORMINATION OF THE MOTHER OF GOD – THE PATRON SAINT'S DAY OF ALL PALE RESIDENTS

Speaking about the celebration of the municipality's patron saint's day, Kojić invited residents and guests to attend the numerous festivities prepared for all generations, stressing that Dormition of the Mother of God is the patron saint's day of all residents of this local community.

He invited citizens to attend the liturgy, the breaking of the patron saint's ceremonial bread, the communal meal, and the procession scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 28, Dormition of the Mother of God.

Kojić said that the sponsors of the church and municipality this year and last year were members of the Saint Sava Orthodox Humanitarian Association, and that children, members of sports clubs, and members of cultural and artistic societies had been invited to take the front rows during the celebrations.