After announcing on Friday that National Stadium project from "BaltCap" is taken over by a real estate development company "Males", the former mayor of the city of Vilnius, Artūras Zuokas, claims that the indexing amount of the project can reach about 30 million. euros. However, according to him, the price may increase due to the expected increase in the number of seats in the stadium and the construction of the basketball arena.
"According to what the mayor claims, after translating the percentages, the amount of indexation, I am not talking about the cost of the creation of additional objects, could be about 30 million. euros. The indexation price is desired and it may increase depending on the need to increase the number of seats in the stadium and if it is necessary to build another basketball arena unnecessarily," A. Zuokas told reporters on Friday.
"In any case, I welcome today's action, finally BaltCap has said it can't go ahead with the project." But the point is how much and how big the indexation will be, and the Council's vote will depend on that," he noted.
A. Zuokas assessed positively Arvydas Avulis involvement in the project and the decision to expand the number of stadium seats to 18 thousand. places, but was critical of the decision to build a basketball arena.
"The amount of indexation will consist of two parts, first, which is to be indexed due to changes in construction prices, second due to the volume of the project being changed. This is a very positive thing, because we have always advocated for the stadium to be at least 18. places, the construction price will have to increase accordingly," said the former mayor of the capital.
"However, we believe that it is completely unnecessary to build another basketball court, because today we have two good ones and private investors are still building them." There are unreasonable expenses here that will increase the overall estimate of the project,” he claimed.
The former mayor of Vilnius testified that currently the fundamental issue is about price indexation, and, according to him, negotiations on the details are just beginning.
"The negotiations that took place two years ago are starting again. A lot of details, I have no doubt that Mr. Avulis is a strong negotiator, the most important thing is that the city and the city's public interest win here," said A. Zuokas.
"According to my data, BaltCap had a contract with Veikmės statyba for 122 million. euros + VAT, for the construction of the entire complex. It was valid last year, so we have a very clear amount of how much everything costs. Some things got cheaper, it was even possible to negotiate a reduction in that amount. Another contract is with "Neresta", which had started work, it is 79,2 million. euros + VAT and this includes the stadium, its accesses and one more object", he taught.
It was announced on Friday that the real estate development company Hanner is taking over the National Stadium project in Vilnius from the investment company BaltCap. In addition, a universal arena suitable for both cultural and sports events should appear in the multi-functional complex in Šeškina, and the stadium itself should have 3 seats. the number of seats is increased, up to 18 thousand.
Price indexation should be agreed upon in the project concession contract in February. According to the mayor of the capital Valdas Benkunskas, the actual cost of construction alone from 2020 beginning until 2022 increased by 40 percent. However, the municipality is preparing to bear only a part of this increase.
ELTA reminds that BaltCap has faced reputational problems after it was revealed that former fund partner Šarūnas Stepukonis may have lost more than 30 million euros at the casino. euros.
Owner of Hanner Arvydas Avulis indicates that the construction of the stadium is to be completed in 2026.
Ignas Dobrovolskas (ELTA)
