Another Step Toward Inclusion in Brčko – Contract Signed to Remove Architectural Barriers
The project “Socio-Economic Inclusion in Brčko District”, which has been successfully implemented for the third year with the donor support of the Government of the Czech Republic through the Czech Development Agency, and with the implementation of CARE International Balkans and the Brčko District Development and Guarantee Fund, has entered a new phase in fulfilling its programmatic goals.4
“We are very pleased that, as one of the partner non-governmental organizations in the overall project, we have reached a point where, based on our input and proposals, we are able to take part in the important contract signing of the contract between CARE International and the public company Putevi Brčko, aimed at removing architectural barriers to facilitate the movement of persons with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs, at least in the central part of the city – from the Health Center to the Hospital – using the sidewalks without needing to step onto the road, thereby avoiding the risk of traffic accidents,” said Nataša Damjanović, president of the citizens’ association Faith & Hope, which brings together persons with disabilities.
According to the signed contract, the public company Putevi Brčko, or the selected contractor, is obliged to remove all curbs on one side of the roadway from the city center, adapt or lower them them so that persons with disabilities, especially wheelchair users, can move along the sidewalks without major obstacles. The contract specifies the exact locations where architectural barriers must be removed. There are 26 such locations indicated, where 52 curbs in total must be lowered or removed on both sides, with two barriers already removed through the construction of the last two roundabouts.
“For the implementation of these works, €18,000 (excluding VAT) has been allocated to the public company Putevi Brčko, and the contractor, selected through the company’s legal procedure, will begin the works after obtaining the necessary documentation,” said project manager Branislav Tanasijević, adding that the overall project implementation will be monitored in cooperation with the Faith & Hope association.
The director of the public company Putevi Brčko, Vlado Jevtić, expressed his satisfaction during the contract signing that the company contributes to the overall implementation of the SEI project, especially when it comes to supporting persons with disabilities.
“The contractor will be engaged in the works no later than the end of this month, and the deadline for the works is 100 calendar days,” Jevtić emphasized, noting that, if weather conditions allow, the entire project could be completed by the end of 2025.
