Rruga e Arbrit road concession: largest annual state payment in the concession budget
Status: Concession in force; largest annual payment in the 2025 and 2026 budget reporting. Completion status disputed by the MP in 2024.
Summary
The Rruga e Arbrit (Arbër road) concession is the largest single item in the state's annual concession budget. Budget reporting cited by Shqiptarja gives a 2025 planned payment of 3.36 billion lekë, the largest of the 2025 concession payments, while the 2020 budget projection for the following year was 4.1 billion lekë (Shqiptarja, 2020). The concession, to a company listed in media as Gjoka Konstruksion, was described in a Balkanweb piece as about 225 million euro (UNVERIFIED, not confirmed in the original source). The same company was disqualified from a separate ARRSH Kardhiq-Delvina lot after presenting false documentation on its progress on Rruga e Arbrit (exit.al, secondary report citing UNVERIFIED).
In April 2024 Democratic Party MP Dhurata Çupi told parliament that the concession started at 120 million dollars and had grown to 320 million euro, and that completion had been postponed after problems at the Murriz tunnel. Her figures are opposition claims. The minister answering in the same debate, not named in the text, said the Murriz tunnel problem was geological, that work continued without extra state budget funds, and that the Llogara tunnel would be handed over within two months.
Key facts
- 2020 budget projection for 2021: 4.1 billion lekë, up from 1.6 billion (Shqiptarja, 20 Oct 2020).
- 2025 planned payment: 3.36 billion lekë, the largest in the 2025 budget (Shqiptarja, 28 Oct 2024).
- Contract value about 225 million euro as reported by Balkanweb (secondary report citing UNVERIFIED).
- MP claim (April 2024): contract started at 120 million dollars and rose to 320 million euro (Shqiptarja, 4 Apr 2024).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Shqiptarja budget reporting shows Rruga e Arbrit as the largest concession payment in the 2021 budget projection (4.1 billion lekë) and in the 2025 budget (3.36 billion lekë planned).
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationCost growth from the original bid to the current value is alleged by the opposition (not reviewed against the contract).
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationMP Dhurata Çupi alleges the concession cost has grown from 120 million dollars to 320 million euro and that the project shows corruption at all levels of government (Shqiptarja, 4 Apr 2024).
Open questions (3)
- Actual 2025 and 2026 payments against the planned 3.36 billion lekë.
- The original bid and winning value, and whether the rise to 320 million euro is confirmed in the contract or an annex.
- KLSH audit coverage of this concession (none found in sources reviewed).
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- Minister (not named in the article), April 2024: the Murriz tunnel problem is geological; work continues without extra state budget funds (Shqiptarja, 4 Apr 2024).
Figures
Money trail →Rruga e Arbrit: 2025 planned payment
3,360,000,000 lek
Stated definition: Planned budget payment, largest 2025 concession item; a secondary report says the same level for 2026 (UNVERIFIED).
Date: 31 Dec 2025 · Payer: Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy (state budget) · Payee: Rruga e Arbrit concessionaire (listed as Gjoka Konstruksion in media)
- Pagesat per koncesionet ne vitin 2025 arrijne ne 14.2 mld leke (opens in a new tab)Shqiptarja · 28 Oct 2024 · journalism · SQ
Timeline
Full timeline →Government
2021 budget projects 14.5 billion lekë in concession payments; Arbër road largest at 4.1 billion
Shqiptarja reports the 2021 budget tables: concession payments of 14.5 billion lekë across 13 contracts, up from 7.8 billion; Arbër road 4.1 billion; Check-Up 876 million; dialysis 779 million; sterilisation 1.7 billion. These are budget projections, not actual payments.
Parliament
PD MP Dhurata Çupi says Arbër road concession grew from 120 million dollars to 320 million euro
In parliament Çupi cites the cost growth and Murriz tunnel delays on Rruga e Arbrit and links the concession to corruption at all levels of government; the minister answers that the delay is geological and no extra state budget funds are used.
Government
2025 budget projects concession payments of 14.2 billion lekë across 10 contracts
Shqiptarja reports the 2025 budget projection: Arbër road 3.36 billion lekë; sterilisation 1.9 billion; laboratories 1.9 billion; dialysis 960 million; Check-Up 876 million; Milot-Morinë 720 million. Ministry of Finance later reports an actual 2025 outturn of 13.36 billion lekë (see below).
Connections
Concessionaire of Rruga e Arbrit (as reported)
Evidence: Secondary report of a Balkanweb report says the concession went to Gjoka Konstruksion; not confirmed in an opened source.
Parliamentary claims on Arbër road cost growth
Evidence: Shqiptarja, 4 Apr 2024.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 4 sources.
Source label: Officially reportedOfficially reported · 2 sources
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 28 Oct 2024
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 20 Oct 2020
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- Shqiptarja
- Date
- 4 Apr 2024
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- unknown