Belgrade Metro Exhibition Space Criticized as 'Potemkin Village'

An exhibition space for the "Belgrade Metro and Train" project is being prepared in central Belgrade, though its exact function and official opening date are yet to be announced. The public utility company behind the project has not responded to inquiries about these details.

Miloš Vučković of the "Kreni-promeni" movement criticized the initiative, calling it another "Potemkin village." He suggests that such projects are often unveiled by city and national authorities before elections to justify the expenditure of public funds, which he claims are spent without transparent public procurement.

Vučković also highlighted ongoing concerns about the metro's first line, arguing that its current route is poorly designed. He stated that instead of serving densely populated areas or crucial facilities like the Clinical Center of Serbia, it is routed through the "Belgrade Waterfront" development. He advocates for a route that would genuinely benefit commuters, based on proposals from the Faculty of Civil Engineering.

This criticism comes as construction for the metro, first promised in 2016, has yet to begin. Former promises for completion dates have been repeatedly pushed back, with a recent announcement suggesting the first line might be finished by 2029. The "Savanova" structure, initially intended as an information point for the "Belgrade Waterfront" project, has also operated as a restaurant since its inception, adding to public skepticism about the transparency of large infrastructure projects.