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Building a high-speed railway from Belgrade to Novi Sad is the number one priority this year, said Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tomislav Momirović. While touring the works of the overpass in Zemun polje, he reiterated that this section of the Belgrade-Budapest route should be completed by the end of 2021. The deadlines have moved from year to year, for now there is a certain railway to Novi Sad, and the train has not yet been purchased.
“We are under this phenomenal overpass, 295 meters long by 18 meters wide. I really have to thank you because we managed to keep the dynamic all these days during the New Year holidays, we did not stop for a single day,” said Minister Momirović .
It does not stop, because the dynamics arrived with a delay. It is no longer possible to take a train from Belgrade to Novi Sad for a full 23 months due to works on the Belgrade – Budapest high-speed line. The works were officially inaugurated in December 2015 and their completion was first promised for 2018.
“Citizens will be able to use the Belgrade-Budapest high-speed railway in 2018,” Vucic said at the time.
Deadlines have moved faster than building a high-speed rail. The latest firm promise is that the section to Novi Sad will be ready by the end of 2021 and to Budapest by the end of 2024. And when will the investment of more than a billion and a half dollars for Serbia pay off?
“It is very difficult to see a project like this in isolation and talk about it as a business plan and if it will pay off and how,” Momirovic said.
We reiterate the question of whether the ministry conducted a study or projection of the profitability of the high-speed rail project.
“But of course. We have done it, then why not?” We believe that this is necessary for the functioning of the civilized population and the country, “said the minister.
N1: Not necessary, but do you have a feasibility study?
“In this way, we have to analyze things. So, infrastructure is something that is necessary for people to function,” said the minister.
N1: I will repeat the question. It is not my question if it is necessary, it is clear that it is necessary. Do you have a profitability study? When will the investment pay off?
The minister’s assistant stepped in to help. But instead of profitability, he spoke of feasibility.
“No project can be done before it has its feasibility study, before it has all its phases of project documentation, and certainly the feasibility study was done and has profitability related to the construction of this railway,” said Anita Dimoski.
A high-speed railway is being built, but there is no high-speed train in sight yet. It should appear later this year.
“We will soon sign a memorandum of understanding with our Chinese partners. But the important thing for us is that the trains are in accordance with the European standard,” the minister emphasized.
N1: When, in what period?
“If we finish this in 2021, we must have a train,” he added.
If the promises are to be believed, before the end of the year, whoever has the money for a ticket on the high-speed train to Novi Sad will arrive in half an hour, and perhaps in 4 or 5 years to Budapest in less than three.
