The repair of the Emperor's Baths will be significantly more expensive, the state has 830 million CZK

Karlovy Vary - The renovation of the Imperial Baths in Karlovy Vary is expected to cost nearly 830 million crowns. The original estimate was 586 million. However, today the county representatives approved that the region will still proceed with one of the most closely watched contracts in recent years.

Although representatives from 11 companies inspected the construction during the preparation of the contract, only four companies submitted specific offers. The bids ranged from 828 million to 932 million crowns.

The cost difference could be partially covered by a higher subsidy from the state, said the governor of the region, Jana Mračková Vildumetzová (ANO), to the representatives today. She stated that she has a written assurance from Finance Minister Alena Schillerová that, in addition to the already approved support of 250 million, the region will receive an additional 150 million crowns.

"There is a greater scope of restoration work. The increased amount is precisely for the restoration works, but also for the construction works. It is a contract for 42 months, where the company must guarantee the price, there is no possibility of an inflation clause, so it is not possible for the price to increase during the execution of the contract," stated Mračková Vildumetzová.

So far, it was expected that the state would provide the region with a subsidy of 250 million crowns, the city of Karlovy Vary would contribute 100 million, and the region, which owns the national cultural monument, had prepared 200 million.

If the finance minister keeps her promise and the state increases its support to 400 million crowns, the region would have to pay about 330 million from its own sources. Whether it would use the reserve fund, which has about 500 million crowns, an operating loan of one billion crowns for the pre-financing of subsidized projects, or a new loan, the representatives will decide later.

"Thank God it is starting. But no one will take away my conviction that by canceling the original tender, which was fine according to us, we lost about 200 million crowns due to the changes in the construction market," commented today's decision of the county assembly opposition representative and former mayor of Karlovy Vary, Petr Kulhánek (KOA).

The spa building from the late 19th century was supposed to start renovation in 2016. At that time, the estimated cost of the work was about 600 million crowns, including the construction of a multipurpose hall. However, the new leadership of the region canceled the contract upon taking office, stating that it was not well prepared and discussed with the heritage authorities.

The current reconstruction project only includes the repair of the original part of the building. The construction of the concert hall in a way that does not interfere with the architecturally valuable parts of the building should be financed by the city of Karlovy Vary beyond the already promised 100 million crowns. According to the assembly's resolution, 150 million crowns should be allocated for this purpose. Overall, the reconstruction of the monument, which is visited by about 100,000 people annually, is expected to cost nearly one billion crowns.