Prague will hold a round table on the next steps regarding the revitalization of the embankments

Prague - Prague will hold a round table composed of representatives from political parties in the council, the city company Trade Centre Prague (TCP), and architect Petr Janda regarding the further steps for the completion of the revitalization of the Prague embankments. This was approved by city councilors last night. The city's leadership decided some time ago to abandon Janda's original proposal for the completion of the modifications, which sparked criticism from the architect and the opposition.

Most of the work on the revitalization of the embankments is already complete, with the remaining work primarily focused on the reconstruction of the so-called cubicle in the riverbank wall, which houses public restrooms and significant network infrastructure. The June decision by city councilors to abandon the original project was justified by the fact that the revitalization of the embankments has significantly increased in cost, and the operating costs for the cubicles fitted with glass rotating doors in the shape of lenses are also high.

The reconstruction of the cubicle with restrooms that remains to be completed is estimated to cost around 30 million crowns without VAT. The city company TCP, which manages the embankments, assessed this as an excessively high price and plans to announce a competition for a new design. The decision is disliked by the author of the concept, architect Janda, whose modifications to the embankments have been recognized abroad, and it has also been opposed by the Prague opposition.

The question was raised today at the council meeting by the opposition parties ANO and Prague Sobě, which proposed in a resolution that modifications continue according to the original project and that the management of the embankments be transferred from TCP to another city company, Prague City Tourism. These proposals did not succeed, and the councilors ultimately voted for a counterproposal by the chairman of the Spolu club, Tomáš Portlík, to call for a round table to suggest further steps.

Janda also spoke at the meeting, stating that the cubicle with restrooms designated for reconstruction is technically the most complicated and that 20 million of the total 30 million will go towards technical equipment, as there is a large amount of network distribution for the entire Rašínovo embankment. He also criticized the maintenance of the embankments, which he believes does not comply with the provided manuals, and the costs for it do not correspond to how it is conducted. The opposition also criticized that several cubicles on Rašínovo and Dvořákovo embankments are still closed, even though their reconstruction has been completed long ago.

City councilor Adam Zábranský (Pirates) responded to the criticism by stating that he stands by the original decision. While he considers the solution for the cubicles to be aesthetically valuable, he believes it is impractical and expensive to maintain. Regarding the still unopened cubicles, he mentioned that those on Dvořákovo embankment have been awaiting connection to the electrical grid from Prague Energy. For the two on Rašínovo embankment, it is necessary first to reconstruct the discussed cubicle with restrooms, as the required electrical wiring will run through it. The chairman of the board of TCP, Josef Bláha, then stated that the city company is managing the embankments according to the city's instructions.