Work continues round the clock at all construction sites to rebuild single-family homes, residential buildings, educational facilities and urban infrastructure in all quake-affected areas as part of the ongoing reconstruction programme launched by the government of Albania in the wake of the devastating earthquake that rattled the country on November, 2019.

In the town of Laç, where Prime Minister Edi Rama inspected the reconstruction sites last night, work is in full swing despite the unfavourable weather conditions.

The work to residential complex, being built by the Turkish government, has progressed to an advanced stage, and the structure of all apartment buildings is scheduled to complete by end of March. “Construction activity on some of the buildings has reached the fifth floor. The platform part and the parking garages in the southern part have completed. Work continues round the clock in three shifts and, based on the supervision actions and the official reports, quality of work is very high. A total of 524 residences and a parking garage for over 400 vehicles are being built. The project also includes a commercial centre, service units and community premises. Construction of the structure of all buildings will complete by end of March and the retrofitting work will commence. The whole site will complete by end of August or early September,” State Minister for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj said.

In addition to construction of the residential buildings, rehabilitation of the local watercourse in Laç, a project set to complete soon, fulfilling a long-cherished desire of the town’s residents. “The work to fully rehabilitate the watercourse is about to complete. We have arranged everything to begin cooperating with the Turkish company. Weather has not favoured our efforts, but work has been arranged on long work shifts,” Laç Mayor Majlinda Cara said.

In the meantime, intense work is also underway to build the infrastructure in the new residential blocs. “We have urged the construction firms to work round the clock in three shifts. We have asked them to organize three-shift work on construction of single-family homes, schools and the urban infrastructure, otherwise they would face penalties. We are seeking to hand over the new homes to the quake-affected families as soon as possible,” the Reconstruction Minister said.

PM Rama said “the toughest and most invisible part is not over and the visible part is about to begin.”

Commenting on the contracts about the single-family homes and the apartments, Minister Ahmetaj underlined that “under the standard form contract, citizens are entitled to own, pass on to their children, rent or sell their new homes.”