GradnjaMC (short for Gradnja Machinery and Construction) is the largest construction firm and heavy machinery manufacturer in the Divine Republic of Kresimiria. Headquartered in the capital of Pologradska, Polograd, it holds many contracts on the construction of federal government buildings, military fortifications, and major public infrastructure projects.
While it operates for profit, the state holds a “Golden Share” that grants the Council for Development veto power over board appointments. This arrangement, established during the restructuring of the late 1980s, has made GradnjaMC a pillar of the Blue Dawn establishment, often contrasting with the purely private and more oppositional nature of its rival/partner, Maj Holdings.
History
Origins and Consolidation (1940s–1978)
In the reconstruction era following World War II, Kresimiria’s construction sector was fragmented among dozens of small, family-owned firms in Pologradska, Kakerovecska, and Sinj.
In the early 1960s, driven by the infrastructure demands of the post-Treaty economy, these entities began to consolidate. By 1962, they had merged to form Kresimiria Buildings and Heavy Machinery (KBHM). The company grew rapidly, building the new university expansions in Sinj and the sprawling industrial parks of Novi Otonik.
In 1978, the company rebranded as Gradnja Corporation. The name was taken from their most popular product line, the “Gradnja” (Construction) series of yellow excavators, which had become ubiquitous across the Republic.
The Sanjakorin Compromise (1988–1989)
The defining moment in the company’s history came during the premiership of Ljubo Sanjakorin. As Sanjakorin moved to pass the State Enterprise Act to nationalize strategic industries, Gradnja Corporation was threatened with total state seizure.
The board of directors negotiated a “survival deal” with Sanjakorin.
- The Split: Gradnja agreed to divest its rail-laying division (which was absorbed into Republic Rail) and its steel foundries (which were either nationalized or sold to Maj Steel).
- The Charter: In exchange, the company was allowed to remain a private entity with a guaranteed monopoly on government construction contracts, provided it accepted partial state oversight.
- Rebranding: The reorganized entity was named GradnjaMC.
The Viskosever Split and Reunion (1980s–2009)
During the economic turbulence of the 1980s, the company’s northern division, based in Viskogorje, split off to form Viskosever Construction. This splinter company was fully nationalized by the local district government to protect jobs in the mountain regions.
However, Viskosever struggled with inefficiency and corruption. In 2009, under the pro-privatization policies of the late Vasilis era, GradnjaMC re-acquired Viskosever. This acquisition restored GradnjaMC’s dominance in the north, though it drew criticism from Northern Power, which argued that local assets were being sold off to Sinj oligarchs.
Operations
Construction
GradnjaMC is the “Builder of the State.” It is responsible for:
- Government Ministries: All major federal buildings in Sinj, including the expansions to the Assembly complex and the renovation of the Federal Archive.
- Urban Development: High-rise residential blocks in the major cities.
GradnjaMC holds the exclusive contract for all military fortifications commissioned by the Council for Defence. This includes the maintenance of the border wall with Boskenmark and the hardened bunkers of the “Iron Bastion” headquarters in Sinj.
Machinery
The company manufactures the “Gradnja G-Series” of heavy equipment (excavators, bulldozers, cranes). These machines are known for their rugged durability and are the standard equipment for both the Kresimirian Army’s engineering corps and private mining firms like SeverMin.
Relations with Maj Holdings
GradnjaMC has a complex “frenemy” relationship with the conglomerate Maj Holdings.
- Symbiosis: GradnjaMC does not produce its own steel; it is the largest domestic customer of Maj Steel. Furthermore, it relies heavily on Maj Logistics trucks to move its heavy machinery to building sites.
- Rivalry: The two companies compete fiercely for influence. Maj Holdings is politically aligned with Vjetrusa and advocates for deregulation, whereas GradnjaMC is deeply embedded with Blue Dawn and the state bureaucracy.
- The Contract War: While Maj Holdings often bids on private commercial projects, GradnjaMC uses its “Golden Share” status to lock Maj out of lucrative government tenders, a source of constant legal friction between the two giants.
Controversies
The Sprodvice Reconstruction Scandal (2014–2016)
GradnjaMC was the primary contractor for the reconstruction of Sprodvice following the 2014 Earthquakes. The project was funded by the South Reconstruction Act and managed financially by STP Credit.
Investigations by the BLF and the CRF revealed that GradnjaMC focused almost exclusively on building the “New Commercial District”—a zone of luxury apartments and shopping centers on the city’s outskirts.
- Neglect: The historic Old Quarter, home to the displaced Bosken population, was left in ruins for over two years while GradnjaMC cranes worked around the clock on the commercial zone.
- Profiteering: Leaked memos suggested that GradnjaMC executives referred to the disaster as a “land clearance opportunity,” prioritizing projects with high resale value over humanitarian housing.
- Fallout: The scandal caused massive protests in District X and damaged the reputation of the Blue Dawn government, contributing to the radicalization of local youth.
The “Concrete Cartel”
The company is frequently accused of inflating costs on government contracts. Because it has a statutory monopoly on ministry buildings, critics argue there is no incentive for efficiency. Construction projects in Sinj often run 200–300% over budget, with the excess funds allegedly flowing back into Blue Dawn campaign coffers via “consulting fees.”