Shijak, reconstruction program kicks off with demolition of quake-damaged buildings
A brand new residential neighbourhood, projected to meet best standards of community living, will be built in and around the ruins of the quake-damaged apartment buildings and homes in the town of Shijak, one of worst-hit areas by the last year’s devastating earthquake in Albania. The demolition of the damaged buildings started today to make way for the reconstruction program in the area.
Prime Minister Edi Rama today visited the neighbourhood “Lugine”, where work to raze down 18 apartment buildings kicked off earlier today, to make way for construction of some 30 new apartment buildings in the whole quake-affected area.
In addition to the old apartment buildings, several education institutions, school and kindergarten buildings, which sustained serious damages due to November 26 earthquake, will also be demolished to be rebuilt from scratch. Mayor of Shijak Elton Arbana explained that three education institutions will be demolished in this neighbourhood after being declared as high risk structures by the Construction Institute.
PM Rama said great work has been done in collaboration with architects, the Municipality of Shijak and the Minister for Reconstruction to make sure that best possible is done for the citizens in terms of housing standards, and not only. Former shop and business owners will benefit new spaces and modern infrastructure. “The town of Shijak was hit hard and all these collective apartment buildings became inhabitable. In the meantime, the Municipality, the Mayor, the Minister for Reconstruction and the team of Italian and Albanian experts have done a great and fantastic job. What is to follow is something really different and unimaginable, a brand new neighbourhood, featuring buildings that meet best community living standards, and not only that, but also new schools, kindergartens and nursery schools, and public services up to a completely new level. Those who used to own shops and various service businesses will benefit new spaces up to best standards,” Rama said.
The Premier said that the reconstruction program will transform Shijak and turn the town into an important tourist attraction in the area. “Without exaggerating at all, Shijak, because of its geographical location, has been always overlooked and sidestepped during the tourism season, while this transforming project will turn the town into a significant tourism attraction in the area. I am confident that this transformation will boost tourism and allow local resident to lease their properties to tourists during summer season and help increase tourism sector’s turnover. We have adopted the plan and the process has begun with the Albanian Development Fund that will implement the infrastructure intervention project, which comprises a significant volume in this whole area, as well as the residential blocs,” PM Rama said.
