The Ministry of Internal Administration (MAI) has clarified that the construction project was delayed in 2021 due to the absence of a temporary solution for housing the PSP Command of Viana do Castelo, as stated in a written response to a query from the news agency.
The Secretary of State for Internal Administration confirmed during a budget proposal discussion that a legal issue is being addressed, noting that legal proceedings related to the project, initially estimated at one million euros, are ongoing and the work is currently suspended.
The MAI is collaborating with the City Council and PSP to find a temporary location for the Command.
The renovation of the 1960s building, planned since 2011, includes requalifying coverings, plumbing, electrical installations, and frames, among other works.
Inspections revealed that the interior of the Command is in poor condition. Over two months ago, part of the ceiling in a ground-floor inquiry room collapsed. Another inquiry room shared by three officers lacks privacy and work conditions. The door of a complaint room is almost destroyed by termites. The cells do not meet modern standards, and the sanitary facilities are poor, along with other issues like the electrical system.
In September, the City Council approved the acquisition of three commercial stores for 1.4 million euros.
According to the Mayor, Luís Nobre, these stores will temporarily house the PSP Command during the renovation.
The stores, located on Avenida Conde da Carreira and Travessa da Estação in the city center, cover 1,661.78 square meters. They are state-owned but have never been used.
After the PSP’s works, the properties will aid in hosting municipal services which are currently scattered, creating additional costs and organizational inefficiencies. The acquisition aims to consolidate administrative structures and reduce rental expenses, improving municipal service conditions and citizen services.
An independent evaluation of the properties set their total value at 1,384,500 euros, with individual investments as follows: fraction A at 487,500 euros, fraction F at 333,000 euros, and fraction K at 564,000 euros.
The valuation received favorable opinions from IP Património Administração e Gestão Imobiliária, S.A., and subsequent approval from Estamo – Participações Imobiliárias, S.A. The property acquisition was approved by the Municipal Assembly and submitted to the Court of Auditors.
