Government Gives Go-Ahead for Taking Loan for Zagreb-Rijeka Highway

The Croatian Government approved on Thursday a EUR 260 million project for the construction of the Kikovica-Stara Sušica section of the Zagreb-Rijeka motorway as a three-lane dual carriageway.

 The Ivo Sanader cabinet decided that EUR 210 million would be ensured in the form of a European Investment Bank loan. The Government today gave state guarantees for the loan, which is to be granted to the Rijeka-Zagreb Highway company.

 Works on the 44.26-kilometre section will start next year and are expected to be completed by the end of 2008, when the 155-kilometre motorway will be a three-lane dual carriageway, Transport and Development Minister Božidar Kalmeta said at the session in Zagreb.

 The Government also sent to Parliament a bill on the ratification of an agreement with the World Bank on a EUR 67.8-million loan for a project for the development of the national educational system. (Hina)