STEVANOVIĆ: BRINGING MORE TOURISTS TO VIŠEGRAD IS GOAL

TARA, JANUARY 24 /SRNA/ – Republika Srpska Minister of Transport and Communications Zoran Stevanović says on Mount Tara that the project for the rehabilitation and revitalization of the narrow-gauge railway Višegrad–Mokra Gora, in addition to work on the railway itself, also includes work on tunnels, the arrangement of the border crossing, and the station in Višegrad.

According to Stevanović, the works will be financed by the Government of Serbia with the estimated cost of more than EUR 15 million.

"The goal of the project, which will be jointly implemented by the governments of Serbia and Republika Srpska, is to bring more tourists to Višegrad," Stevanović told the press.

Recalling that the famous Bridge on the Drina in Višegrad is on UNESCO’s list of protected cultural monuments, Stevanović said that the narrow-gauge railway could one day also be placed on that list, which would be a major attraction for foreign tourists.

He emphasized that the Višegrad–Mokra Gora narrow-gauge railway, built at the beginning of the 20th century, also represents a kind of historical monument.

"We are restoring and bringing back the old shine of the railway, showing that narrow-gauge railways should not have been abolished, but that their purpose should have been changed," Stevanović added.

He noted that the intention of Serbia’s line ministry is for the railway from Mokra Gora to continue toward Užice, where it would connect to the Belgrade–Bar railway, thus making it possible to travel by train from Belgrade to Višegrad.

Today on Mount Tara, Prime Minister of Republika Srpska Savo Minić and Prime Minister of Serbia Đuro Macut signed a Protocol on the establishment of a Joint Working Group for the Višegrad–Vardište–Mokra Gora Project, after which the first meeting of this working body was also held.