DistantNews
Support us
Niš Residents Protest Railway Project, Citing Lack of Transparency and Risks
🇷🇸 Serbia /Culture & Society

Niš Residents Protest Railway Project, Citing Lack of Transparency and Risks

From N1 Serbia · () Serbian

Translated from Serbian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents of Niš's Pantelej municipality are protesting a state-backed railway relocation project, citing a lack of transparency and potential risks.
  • Citizens are concerned about the project's impact on their homes and the environment, with Chinese workers undertaking construction without clear communication.
  • They are seeking assistance from European institutions and are critical of the compensation offered, which they deem insufficient compared to local property values.

Residents of Niš's Pantelej municipality are voicing strong opposition to a state-led railway relocation project, drawing parallels to the controversial "Belgrade Waterfront" development. They feel their concerns are being ignored as construction proceeds, with Chinese workers on-site unable to provide clear information.

We don't know what's happening here now.

— Dragan StojkovićA resident of Pantelej describes the uncertainty surrounding the construction.

Citizens have formed an expert team to understand the project's route, risk assessments, and environmental impact, but claim they have not received adequate documentation from authorities. This lack of transparency has prompted them to seek help from European institutions, with initial meetings already held.

Look what's happening here, they want to demolish our houses. We are all protesting. I and my neighbor, all of us. We all struggled for those houses. It's hard, very hard.

— Slavica CvetkovićA resident expresses the emotional and financial hardship caused by the potential demolition of homes.

Concerns extend to the potential demolition of homes, with residents describing the compensation offered, around 450 euros per square meter, as "miserable" when compared to local market rates of over 2,150 euros per square meter. They also worry about the risks associated with freight traffic on a high-speed railway, recalling a past incident where a train derailment near Jasenovac led to evacuations and water contamination.

Everything is written in Chinese, when we approach they don't know, they gesture with their hands. At least let us be informed about what's happening, because nothing has been agreed upon.

— Dragan StojkovićA resident highlights the communication barrier with the construction workers.

"They want to demolish our houses. We are all protesting. I and my neighbor, everyone. We all struggled for those houses. It's hard, very hard," said resident Slavica Cvetković. Another resident, Dragan Stojković, expressed frustration: "Everything is written in Chinese, when we approach they don't know, they gesture with their hands. At least let us be informed about what's happening, because nothing has been agreed upon."

It's a misery. Up here you have a building, down here one is being built and currently the square meter is 2,150 euros.

— Dragan StojkovićA resident contrasts the offered compensation with current local property values.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by N1 Serbia in Serbian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog