MIHAJLOVIC: EUR 5 billion for new cycle of investments in infrastructure

Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic stated that the value of the new cycle of investments in infrastructure, with projects which should take place throughout Serbia, was around EUR 5 billion and that talks about a commercial contract with the Chinese company CRBC on the construction of the Fruska Gora corridor should commence the next week.

Mihajlovic told Politika that the new investment cycle included, among other things, projects of construction of Fruska Gora and Morava corridors, the Nis - Merdare – Pristina highway and the project of the Ruma – Sabac – Loznica high-speed route.

– The documentation for three sections of the Fruska Gora corridor is completed and the fourth one is being prepared. We have a memorandum signed with China’s CRBC, and talks about a commercial contract begin next week. The expected value of the construction is around EUR 400 million. We hope that the agreement will be reached by the autumn, and the works can’t start before next year, somewhere between March and May – Mihajlovic said.

Talking about the road Corridor 11 and the construction of the Nis – Merdare – Pristina highway, Mihajlovic said that it was important for Serbia to get access to the sea through Montenegro and Albania, but also to provide a highway for its citizens who live in the area, as well as a quicker transfer of goods.

The minister announced that the new highway sections on Corridor 11, from Obrenovac to Ljig, will open for traffic in September or October, and that the construction of the Preljina – Pozega section should start in March, whereas an agreement on the financing of the section, which will cost around EUR 450 million, should be signed in Sofia in July.

According to her, the Pojate – Preljina highway is the most important of all, not counting Corridor 10. She added that the entire project should be completed by August.

Asked about the plans for the modernization of the railway Corridor 10 and the Belgrade – Bar railway, Mihajlovic said that the Russians were more interested in having the reconstruction of the Bar railway continue, whereas the Chinese are more interested in the rehabilitation of the Belgrade – Nis railway and the Novi Sad – Subotica railway.

Talking about the reform of the road sector, Mihajlovic said that there was enough money for maintenance, as 53 million vehicles are expected on Corridor 10 in 2018, with toll revenues higher by 30%, but added that the manner of road maintenance would change.

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

CRBC Bejing

Ministry of Construction Transport and Infrastructure

Zorana Mihajlovic

CRBC

Fruska Gora corridor

Morava corridor

Nis Merdare Pristina highway

Ruma Sabac Loznica high speed route

memorandum with CRBC

Corridor 11

Obrenovac Ljig highway

Preljina Pozega highway

railway Corridor 10

Belgrade Bar railway