€1.5bn Mega Project for Croatian Capital

The government has given the green light for feasibility and environmental impact studies to begin the largest project ever in Croatia.

The 1.5 billion euro “Zagreb on the River Sava” project will see Zagreb’s Sava river transformed, with canals, a series of large and small hydropower plants, river cruises, ports and promenades constructed. The futuristic vision for the Croatian capital is expected to take 15 years to complete, with a majority of the money for the project coming from EU funds.

“It is an ambitious project which can not be realised during the mandate of one government. Therefore, do not ask me when the first hole will be dug,” said Economy Minister Ivan Vrdoljak when quizzed about the project yesterday.

The mega-project will see the suburb of Velika Gorica be home to a river port, with a small metropolis built along the Sava river, close to downtown Zagreb. The project will also free up space on the banks of the river that is used currently to protect the river from flooding, the space will be larger than London’s City area. The feasibility and environmental impact studies, which involves 26 local and foreign experts, will cost 2 million euros and will be complete within the next 18 months.