Novi Sad pushes ahead with controversial monument despite public outcry

Despite widespread public opposition, students, and civic groups, the city of Novi Sad is moving forward with plans to build a monument to victims of a railway station canopy collapse. The city is set to allocate an additional 16.4 million dinars (approximately $150,000) for the project through a budget revision. The city council is scheduled to vote on the revised budget for 2026 on July 21. This revision includes increased spending on "monuments," bringing the total allocated for this memorial to 24.38 million dinars (about $220,000). The funds will cover the monument's design, construction, and surrounding infrastructure. Notably, funds originally earmarked for a monument titled "Apotheosis of Serbian Vojvodina" have been reallocated. That project, planned for the area in front of the railway station, was postponed after the 2024 canopy collapse that killed 16 people. The city has already spent 3.25 million dinars on awards for the monument's design competition. The winning concept, by artist Goran Čpajak and architect Zoran Tucić, envisions a large stone slab measuring five by five meters and 1.35 meters high.