Prague 12 is looking for a company that will modify the ramps in the northern part of Sofia Square

Prague - The district of Prague 12 is looking for a company to modify the ramps in the northern part of Sofia Square. The ramps currently have an inappropriate slope, which, according to representatives of the city hall, is in violation of the regulation for barrier-free use of buildings. A part of the square is therefore not approved for use, and people are not allowed to use it. This is based on information from the city hall website, documents related to the contract, and information previously provided to ČTK by the leadership of the city district.

For the reconstruction of Sofia Square, which began in 2019 and was completed a year later, Prague 12 paid approximately 52 million crowns. Last year, the National Council of Persons with Disabilities of the Czech Republic (NRZP) pointed out the inappropriate slopes of the ramps. The deputy mayor of the city district, Jiří Fremr (ODS), subsequently rejected claims that the city hall leadership had erred in the square's reconstruction. However, the error was also denied by the author of the project documentation, the Architectural Studio of architect David Krause, and the construction contractor, which was the company Gardenline.

Now, the firm that wins the contract should modify the ramp connecting the square in central Prague 12 with the upper parking lot. The ramp will be divided by a landing, thus reducing the slope of the ramp. According to the designers, the proposed solution is also suitable for individuals with limited mobility. The builders will also modify the staircase in the square. According to the new design, one of the existing staircases will be moved and will receive handrails, while the second staircase will be extended to have a gentler slope. Safety features for the visually impaired will also be added.

The project documentation for the square's reconstruction was prepared by the Architectural Studio, and the company Projecticon took care of the project modifications. The city hall has now preliminarily estimated the cost of the construction works, which are primarily aimed at correcting the inappropriate slopes of the ramps, at 2.5 million crowns excluding VAT. Interested parties can submit their bids for the tender until July 19. The company that offers the lowest price for the work will win.

The investment project has long been criticized by the opposition. In the past, they unsuccessfully proposed to dismiss mayor Jan Adamce (Pirates) and deputy mayor Fremr, who oversees investments in the twelfth Prague city district. Opposition councilors, including Stanislav Kadeřábek (for ANO), Svatopluk Semecký (KSČM/Citizens of the Twelfth) and Michal Pinc (ANO), have described the investment project as unsuccessful, among other criticisms.