The Municipality of Tirana and UKT have started implementing another important project, which aims to replace all the outdated pipelines in order to avoid water losses in the network and provide citizens with better quality and standards. Part of this project also includes replacing the entire main pipeline from “Todi Shkurti” street to the Pedestrian Zone in front of the Parliament building, a segment that has always been problematic for water flow on the road. The work has continued even late at night to ensure their completion as quickly as possible, in order to avoid various obstacles for traffic and water supply to citizens.
The works were also followed by the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, the PS deputy, Besnik Bare, and the director of UKT, Redi Molla. After being briefed on the project details and the work being done, Veliaj emphasized the daily commitment of the municipality to make investments that bring improvements in services and living conditions, while seeking the understanding of citizens for the problems that may arise during the works.
“1 year ago, we promised a municipality that works in 3 shifts. I know that every time something is built, every time an investment is made, it certainly has an impact on traffic, on how traffic flows in the city. But, every time we fix the house, the living room or the bedroom, the house is paralyzed on those days when there are works in the house. Tirana is our big home, which means that every time there are works, understanding is required. What we promise and what we are committed to even now in the middle of the night, is that we will work in 3 shifts, so that the works are completed as quickly as possible, but we cannot demand a modern Tirana if we do not make these investments”, said Veliaj.
He stressed that the works for the sewage system in the section starting from the Mosque of Tabakëve to the road in front of the Parliament are expected to be completed within 12 days. “We also chose this route that goes through the middle of Tirana, from the Mosque of Tabakëve, the street of the Ballet School, through the intersection with Lana and then continue on the road to the Parliament. Even in the Parliament we had to walk with boots because the whole area was flooded three times a day. We did all this work in 3 shifts. In 6 days we have done almost half of the work, and we have 6 more days to go,” said the mayor. Veliaj stated that all projects in the capital are progressing at the same pace and stressed that many construction sites will be opened this year so that tomorrow we will have a more modern Tirana.
“We will work at the same pace on the new boulevard and Skanderbeg Square. This will indeed be a year in which Tirana will open up completely, but to ensure that the work is done well and that the city not only has a better drinking water supply and modern infrastructure, but is also a city that increasingly serves its citizens. Tirana did not know how to work before, let alone how to work in three shifts. A city with 1 million inhabitants needs a city administration that is at the forefront of service for at least 3 shifts,” Veliaj stressed. The mayor added that in the second year of this term, the focus will remain on the rural areas and the main roads of the city.
“This second year will have a greater focus on rural areas, on some of the main axes. For example, the one that connects the national road Tirana-Elbasan with our unit in Krraba, with some villages of our unit in Peza, with some villages of our unit in Ndroq, in Kashar, in Zall-Herr and in Zallbastar. I believe that we will show them how, with the same zeal that we finished the parks and gardens, schools will continue to be built, work will be done in the center, and work will also be done in the outskirts,” said Veliaj. The Mayor of Tirana asked for the understanding of citizens regarding the problems that may arise from the construction in different road segments.
Deputy Besnik Bare appreciated the engagement of the Municipality of Tirana to solve any issues in the city. “It had been almost 5 years when we came to the Parliament, in fact, we used to predict that we would come with boots because we thought to ourselves, what could happen in the outskirts when this happens in front of the Parliament? However, thanks to the contribution and engagement of the Municipality, you see that the Municipality works 24 hours a day, this problem has been solved, and we are truly convinced that similar problems will be gradually solved. I would congratulate the Municipality for the work they are doing,” he said.
To completely avoid intermittent losses, UKT is carrying out a complete reconstruction of the old pipelines from Todi Shkurti street to Pedonalja. A total of approximately 1500 linear meters of main pipeline and nearly 350 linear meters of distribution network will be laid in an area of 150 hectares. Thanks to this investment, residents living in the center of Tirana, the area bounded by “Bajram Curri” Boulevard, “Muhamet Gjollesha” street and “Durrësi” street will benefit from an improved service of drinking water supply. Additionally, the reconstruction of the network will also increase the water supply pressure for the entire area affected by the above-mentioned streets.
Source: UKT