The leading people of the Croatian Highways (HAC), Rijeka-Zagreb Highway (ARZ) and Croatian Roads (HC) companies on Thursday dismissed allegations about financial wrongdoing in road construction, calling them unfounded and biased.
"The Croatian road construction sector is one of the best in Europe, public tenders are almost impeccable and considering its results, it does not deserve to be publicly smeared by politicians and non-professionals," HAC CEO Mario Crnjak said at a news conference.
HC CEO Stjepko Boban dismissed claims that the cost of construction of the express-way Gazenica-Zadar 2 jumped from the previously planned 283 million kuna to 446 million, saying that the initially estimated cost of the road was around 450 million.
"Several options for that project were offered at the start, and the estimated cost of one of them was around 200 million kuna. That option was abandoned during subsequent evaluation and a four-lane express-way was chosen and is now being worked on... the initially estimated cost of that road was around 450 million kuna," Boban said.
Crnjak admitted that there were problems and cases of abuse in the system of collection of road toll, but that HAC was constantly improving the system. By the end of the year, all highway sections will have an identification system that will prevent manipulation with magnet cards, he said.
Asked if HAC employees were involved in those wrongdoings, Crnjak said that an investigation was under way and that disciplinary proceedings would be launched and other measures taken if somebody was found to be responsible.
ARZ CEO Jurica Prskalo commented on claims that the Zagreb-Rijeka highway cost 300 million kuna more than planned, explaining in detail the procedure of estimating construction costs, which he said depended on the configuration of the ground, increases in the cost of material and other factors.
He said that the best bidders were selected in line with strict criteria and that none of the bidders who were not chosen had submitted any complaints.(Hina)