Dragan Đilas, Mayor of Belgrade - metro in 6 to 7 years

(Dragan Đilas)

- After decades-long polemics and controversies, the citizens of Belgrade will find out this year how the future metro will in their city will look like - Dragan Đilas, the Mayor of Belgrade, said in the interview for Novosti.

- The representatives of the city's delegated groups will visit Vienna soon to hear the experiences of the people who are building metro for 50 years now. After that, we will have a rough sketch of the final look of Belgrade's metro.

How will be construction of metro financed at this time of crisis?

- The estimates are that the initial phase will cost 1bn EUR. That is why this government project exceeds the capacities of Belgrade.

In your opinion, when the construction of metro could start?

- Minimum one year will pass from the moment the look of metro is defined and the elaboration of concrete project starts until the commencement of works. Vienna builds two kilometers of metro per year. Belgrade's metro needs minimum 20 km to function. We can not say that we have metro when we connect New Belgrade and Vuk's Monument, that is, we can take pride in metro only when, for example, Banovo Brdo and Karaburma are connected. What is for sure is that the effects will be visible six to seven years after the commencement of construction.

What is the role of politics in construction of metro since it is often speculated that certain people suggest Russian investors, while the others are in favor of Spanyards or Americans?

- Metro will be built by those who offer the lowest price and the best crediting terms.

Is the look of the Chinese bridge worth 170m EUR finally determined?

- We know how the preliminary solution looks like. Its structure will be simple. There will be two lanes on each side, plus 21 kilometers of access roads. The project will be elaborated by CIP, while the works on the bridge, which will be financed by Chinese Exim Bank, will start in the second half of the year. The Chinese side set the deadline for completion of construction of three years. That means that the bridge will be finished prior to 2013.

Are you satisfied with the construction of the bridge across Ada?

- Yes. The pylon and steel structure will be finished this year. We have also found a solution to the problem of ownership of land on New Belgrade's side, so that the citizens will be able to cross the new bridge at the end of the next year.

- The process is already underway since the applications are being submitted to the boroughs. What is for sure is that there will be no extra-discounts for central zones. Each square meter in the center is worth minimum 2,000 EUR and no social help will be provided for the facilities in that zone. We are now doing our best to get more acceptable price for private apartments and houses. The price and the deadline prior to which the citizens will be able apply for legalization of their facilities will be determined at the end of February.

There are accusations that investments in the city are on hold because the licenses are not being issued?

- I don't know any investor who wanted to build something and was unable to do that because he did not get the license. Thousands of square meters of office space were built before the crisis. Common citizens experience bigger problems than investors when they want to expand or repair some facility. Investors are used to building facilities for 1,200 EUR and selling them for 2,500 per square meter.

How will you manage to keep the city function if the wave of strong strikes sweeps Belgrade?

- Strikers are not allowed to endanger the normal life of the capital city. In case something like that happens, the police will have to react.

Will the price of heating in Belgrade be increased?

- I asked to meet with the Prime Minister, the Minister of Energy and the CEO of Srbijagas. As the biggest buyer of gas, we do not ask for the authorized position, but for the prices that are at the level of the most favorable ones. The citizens of Belgrade can not pay for someone's poor work. We will see after that meeting if the increase in price of heating is really necessary.

When will Belgrade get the communal police?

- About 350 people will start working this year, but we should not expect some spectacular results from them. They will help us maintain the communal order, control the noise, tidiness, illegal construction... That police will, I expect, affect the new habits of citizens.

(Note: excerpt is taken from newspaper Novosti of January 29, 2010)