The long-awaited Belgrade metro project, which was first promised to the city’s residents decades ago, continues to face delays, with the latest estimates pushing its opening back to 2030. Originally expected to relieve the city’s congested streets, the metro has become a symbol of unfulfilled promises, with progress moving slower than expected despite numerous plans over the years.
The first proposals for a metro system date back to 1938, with a revived vision in 1968 and a more detailed plan in 1976, which promised the construction of five metro lines and four regional routes. However, political and economic challenges repeatedly delayed the project. In the 1990s, the idea resurfaced briefly, and in the late 1990s, under the leadership of Zoran Đinđić, serious efforts began. However, those efforts led to the development of a “light rail system,” which also never materialized.
Over the decades, Belgraders have grown frustrated as they heard promises for a metro system that never arrived. In recent years, officials pledged that construction would begin in 2021, with the first line expected to open within two or three years. However, the latest updates suggest that those born when the first serious metro plan was made in 1976 will now have to wait until their 52nd or 54th birthday to see it come to fruition—making Belgrade’s wait for a metro system longer than that of Thessaloniki, which opened its subway 22 years after its initial promises.
The latest delays and expectations for 2030
In November 2021, Goran Vesić, Belgrade’s Deputy Mayor, announced that work on the metro was finally underway, stating that Belgrade would have 223 kilometers of urban and suburban railways, with over 500 daily departures by 2028. However, recent information suggests the first metro line may not open until 2030. The line, which would connect Železnik to Pančevački voz station, is now expected to face further delays.
Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić expressed uncertainty over the timeline, stating that he wasn’t aware of any postponement to 2030 and suggested that questions regarding the delay should be directed to Finance Minister Siniša Mali, who oversees the metro project. Finance Minister Mali had previously announced that the first line would be completed by 2028 or 2029 and that work on the entire route would begin in 2025, including the purchase of tunnel-digging machines.
Preparatory work for the first metro line is slated to begin in the second quarter of next year, with the relocation of underground installations and the clearing of terrain. However, full construction of stations is not expected to commence until the end of 2025, with Chinese company Power China and French company Alstom handling the work.
Challenges and criticism
A significant hurdle for the metro’s timely completion lies in funding. According to the Fiscal Council, the metro project is no longer a priority in the government’s investment plans. While the 2025 budget includes modest funding for the metro, the original investment projections have been revised down, suggesting that projects like EXPO 2027 and the Belgrade-Budapest railway will take precedence. This shift in focus has led to doubts about the metro’s completion timeline, with some experts, like Nikola Jovanović from the Center for Local Self-Government, speculating that the first line might not be completed until 2033. Jovanović also pointed out that promises made in 2021, such as the completion of station construction by September 2022, had not been met, leading to further concerns over the project’s pace.
The metro’s design has also drawn criticism from urban experts, who argue that it fails to adequately address the city’s traffic problems. Critics point out that the metro’s planned route starts in Makiš, an area lacking in population and commercial activity, rather than in more densely populated parts of Belgrade. Some experts believe that the original 1976 plan, which included a line running from Zemun through central Belgrade to Konjarnik, should be revisited.
Current metro plans and costs
The first line of the Belgrade metro, under current plans, will run from Železnik to Mirijevo, covering 21.3 kilometers with 21 stations. Construction is expected to cost six billion euros for the full 60.5 kilometers of track and 60 stations, with the first two lines costing 4.4 billion euros. French companies Aegis and Alstom, along with Power China, are involved in the construction, which includes the development of a depot at Makiš and related infrastructure like Park&Ride facilities.
To date, work on preparing the site at Makiško polje has been completed, including paving for the future depot and transport terminus. Despite this progress, many remain skeptical about the metro’s timely completion, given the many delays and shifting priorities in Belgrade’s urban planning.
