New road segment linking Grekan-Shelgu-Gjyrale, part of the Dumre ring road linking the towns of Belsh and Dumre, is heading towards completion. This is a brand-new segment expected to support the area’s rural and agricultural development transforming the area into a space for tourism and agro-tourism potential development.

Prime Minister Edi Rama today inspected the ongoing works to construct this road section.

“The new road project benefits around 19,000 local residents in the area,” said MP Taulant Balla, the representative of the central district of Elbasan.

According to the Mayor of Belsh, Arif Tafani, around 1000 visitors pick Belsh as their preferred weekend destination. On his part, PM Rama put emphasis on the need to develop projects designed to turn private homes into guesthouses for visitors and tourists.

“Local residents should be provided with incentives to turn their private homes into guesthouses and homestays so that they become income and employment generating projects. This is the case in every tourist destination. The figure of 1000 weekend visitors to Belsh was unimaginable few years ago, plus the foreign tourists visiting the area during the summer months.  Such projects would generate income, employment and help boost local economy as they also create a complete cycle of accommodation and services and help local farmers sell their locally-grown produce,” the Premier said.

The new road segment will improve transport and access to bigger markets in the municipalities of Belsh and Cerrik.

The project marks the completion of a series of investments in upgrading local road infrastructure in the area over the past few years.

Another major investment in this municipality is the new water supply project in Belsh to provide 24-hour water supply to local residents.

The supervisor of works to construct this new water utility pointed out that with the latest technology used at this new station, the efficiency and energy consumption are much lower than the existing one.