Agreement on Lot 2 of Belgrade Metro Line 1 Stage 1 signed with PowerChina

BELGRADE - The Serbian government and Chinese construction firm PowerChina signed on Tuesday an agreement on Lot 2 of Belgrade Metro Line 1 Stage 1 that encompasses project design and execution of construction works, including preparatory activities and acquisition of tunnel-boring machines.

The timeframe for the execution of the 720 mln euro contract is 45 months plus two years.

The document was signed by Minister for Public Investments Darko Glisic - who is also caretaker minister of construction, transport and infrastructure - Secretary for Public Transport in the City Administration of the City of Belgrade Radovan Kremic, Director of the Belgrade Metro and Train public enterprise Andreja Mladenovic and PowerChina representative Han Jiping.

The agreement was signed to ensure a separate, government budget-funded Lot 2 with immediate effect to help expedite the construction of Stage 1 of Metro Line 1, reporters were told after the signing ceremony in the government building.

Glisic said the contract would be executed in the shortest possible time.

"I believe this project will really bring long-term benefits not only to our city but to the entire Republic of Serbia," Glisic said.

He noted that the agreement on Lot 2 would provide a quick and efficient transport link between two distant, suburban parts of the city.

"Metro passengers will be getting from Zeleznik to Mirijevo in slightly over 30 minutes," he said.