The Montenegrin Ministry of Public Works has selected the winner of the tender for the preparation of project documentation for the construction of a new boulevard that will connect the Podgorica–Spuž regional road with the future residential area on Velje Brdo (Veljem brdu). The winning bid was submitted by the consortium of companies Optimusproject from Berane and Podgorica-based Route project, which offered a price of 74.5 thousand euros.
The decision was made a few days ago, and tender participants still have a ten-day period for possible appeals. The tender itself started on June 9 and ended on July 11. Its initial estimated value was 90.7 thousand euros.
Who will work on the project
The company Route project, registered in early 2025, specializes in engineering services and technical consulting. Its founder and director is Dinka Šćepanović. The consortium partner, Optimusproject, has been operating since 2007, and until 2017 was called Omorika promet, and also has experience in engineering and consulting projects. The company's managers are founder Milan Furtula and executive director Darko Ognenović.
If the contract is finally approved, subcontractors will join the project: Aqua engineering, Intecon, Sunny&Shiny, Geodeting, Geotest engineering and MMK control. Second place in the tender went to the Podgorica-based firm Civil engineer together with partners Nide project and Geotehnika.
Terms and deadlines
According to the terms, the designers must prepare a conceptual solution within 20 days after receiving all source materials. After it is approved, they will have another two months to develop the main project. The total contract execution period is 80 days.
The future boulevard is to be 30 meters wide and have four traffic lanes. Its length will be 5.3 kilometers — from the intersection of the Podgorica–Spuž road with Boško Buha Street to the eastern slopes of Velje Brdo and further to the summit. The project also provides for the construction of utility infrastructure: water supply, sewerage, and power networks to serve approximately 5,000 apartments in the first phase of the new residential area.
Challenges and plans
The exact construction cost has not yet been announced. By comparison, the less complex Tivat–Jaz boulevard cost 3.6 million euros per kilometer.
A number of issues were identified during project preparation. For example, at the time the tender began, there was no approved planning documentation for this area, and work was underway on the General Plan and detailed urban development plan for the district. In addition, Vodovod of Podgorica and the company Crnogorski elektroprenosni sistem pointed to the need to resolve technical issues: conducting geological surveys, relocating international power lines, and determining the route of the sewer system, which must connect directly to the new treatment plant near the former aluminum plant.
In August, Podgorica nevertheless approved the new Spatial Development Plan, which makes it possible to move forward with the project.
Prospects for the district's development
The construction of the boulevard on Velje Brdo opens up opportunities for the comprehensive development of this part of Podgorica. The planned residential area is designed for thousands of apartments and can attract new residents, investors, and developers. The project could become an important step toward developing the capital's infrastructure and increase its investment appeal.
The Ministry of Public Works has also announced a separate tender for the review of the main project, estimated at 24.2 thousand euros. A final decision on this part has not yet been made.
The boulevard project on Velje Brdo is not only a transport project, but also a strategic urban planning project that should set the direction for Podgorica's future development and ensure high-quality connections between new residential areas and key roads.
The project’s significance for the capital
The implementation of the boulevard project on Velje Brdo is of strategic importance for Podgorica's development. In recent years, this area has been seen as one of the most promising directions for the capital's expansion, where modern residential complexes, social facilities, and commercial infrastructure could be built. Thanks to the new boulevard, the future residential area will have convenient transport links to the regional road and other parts of the city, which will significantly increase its appeal to homebuyers and investors.
Experts note that good transport accessibility plays a key role in shaping property values. The new boulevard could become a catalyst for the emergence of schools, kindergartens, shopping centers, and recreation areas, turning Velje Brdo into a full-fledged and self-sufficient district of Podgorica. In addition, the project opens up opportunities for creating jobs — both during construction and later as the city infrastructure develops.
Thus, the initiative of the Ministry of Public Works is seen as an investment in the capital's future, aimed at improving quality of life and strengthening its position as a dynamically developing center of the region.