New protest over Niš railway bypass: Tracks block Humska Street and 20,000 people

Residents of the Donji Komren neighborhood in Niš, Serbia, staged a protest against the planned closure of Humska Street, which is set to be rerouted for the construction of a new railway bypass. The demonstrators blocked the street for an hour near the existing railway crossing, demanding that the international high-speed rail line not pass through their area and that Humska Street remain open for traffic.

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This is the smallest urban settlement, but it is an urban settlement. The government of this country received money to move the railway out of the city, and they are relocating it.

Bojan Milojević, a resident, argued that the project is not merely relocating a railway but moving it from a more densely populated part of the city to a less populated one. He expressed concern that the new route would place the railway dangerously close to homes, with new crossings potentially just three meters from existing fences. Milojević questioned the safety implications, particularly for residents whose homes might be situated near the tracks.

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If what they have in mind succeeds, imagine people whose train passes literally through their bedroom. What about them?

Bojan Živković highlighted that Humska Street serves between 15,000 and 20,000 people from surrounding neighborhoods. He deemed the proposed closure and redirection of traffic to alternative routes, such as Bombaška Street or Bulevar Nikole Tesle, unacceptable. Residents are concerned that Humska Street could become a dead end, effectively isolating them.

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It is out of the question to close Humska Street and put people in a situation where one day they will encounter a wall.

Environmental engineer Milena Janković voiced concerns about the ecological impact of the international high-speed rail line. She pointed out that the route will transport hazardous materials like ammonia and liquid petroleum gas, and that constant noise and vibrations will pose health risks, potentially causing chronic stress and increasing the danger of fires and explosions. Janković stressed that the environmental and safety risks extend beyond the immediate vicinity of Humska and Borske streets to affect all citizens of Niš.

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Hazardous materials will be transported, ammonia, liquid petroleum gas, acids. There will be constant noise and vibration that will endanger people's health, cause chronic stress. Fire and explosion can also occur during leakage, which will further lead to great danger to the population.