Director of the public company “Belgrade Metro and Train”, Andreja Mladenović, announced that the contract with the French company Alstom for the first phase of the first metro line will soon be signed, noting that Alstom is one of the most important companies involved in the project.
“We have several major French companies participating in this project. Alstom is the most significant partner and holds the largest contract. From the very beginning, the company Egis has also been involved — it designed the first metro line and is currently designing the second. The first line’s design has been completed, and the second line’s design is underway,” Mladenović told TV Prva. He expects the design for the second line to be completed by the end of 2026 or early 2027.
He added that the design of the third metro line began in January this year. “We are designing all three lines. One line isn’t enough — it’s only the beginning. Three lines will form a complete metro system, which will also be integrated with BG Voz, creating a comprehensive and unified rail-based transport network,” Mladenović explained.
Construction Timeline and Technology
He noted that the construction timeline for the first line is three to four years, followed by a complex testing phase.
“The trains will be automated, and all systems will feature the most modern technologies available globally, so testing durations vary,” he said.
Mladenović recalled that three contracts have already been signed with the main construction contractor, the Chinese company Power China. The first metro line will be 15 kilometers long, including:
- 11 kilometers of tunnels
- 2 kilometers of elevated track
- 2 kilometers of shallow cut-and-cover sections
The line starts at Makiško Polje, with the Železnik and Makiš stations built above ground, while Žarkovo is the first underground station. At Bele Vode, a tunnel-boring machine (TBM) will be launched and driven toward Sajam, where it will be extracted.
A second TBM will begin tunneling from the Pančevo Bridge toward Sajam, where it too will be removed.
“In total, we will excavate around 11 kilometers of tunnels simultaneously. We are already designing and preparing the stations, especially the launch sites. Two TBMs have been ordered, and a third one will be needed for the section from Pančevo Bridge to Mirijevo,” Mladenović said.
Expropriation and Relocation
He stated that much of the expropriation work has already been completed, with Makiško Polje fully expropriated and procedures ongoing at other locations.
“In the next month or two we will begin relocations — around 80 to 100 families will be moved, some of them already relocated,” he said, referring to the Čukarica area near Bele Vode.
Financing
Funding for the metro will come from both the state and city budgets, in addition to loans.
“We have already invested significant funds, and the main financing phase is forthcoming. Part of the funding will come from loans, and a substantial portion from Belgrade and the Republic of Serbia,” Mladenović stated.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić earlier announced that by December 15, the commercial contract with Alstom for the construction of the first metro line will be signed.
