In 2027, Belgrade will host the World Expo 2027, a large-scale international event that will take place from May 15 to August 15. For this event, the municipality of Surcin has already begun building infrastructure, including a national stadium, an exhibition center, and new transportation interchanges. One of the key projects in preparation for the exhibition will be the opening of the first metro line, which will significantly change the transport map of the Serbian capital.
The importance of the metro for the city and the real estate market
The first metro line, which has already started construction, will connect key areas of Belgrade, including the exhibition center in Surcin. This project will not only improve transportation, but will also have a significant impact on the cost of housing and land along the route.
Traditionally, real estate prices near metro stations have been on the rise, making this factor one of the main ones for investors. In the case of Belgrade, the impact of the new infrastructure may be even more noticeable given the growing interest in the city ahead of EXPO-2027.
Surcin – the center of events
Surčin, where the bulk of the EXPO-2027 facilities will be concentrated, is becoming the center of attention for both the authorities and developers. The construction of a national stadium, a new railway station and an exhibition complex is already underway. According to official data, the area of the future exhibition center will be 113 hectares, and the total construction area, including the accompanying infrastructure, will reach 167 hectares.
Real estate prices in Surchyn have already started to rise. For example, the cost of apartments has increased several times over the past year. Land plots have also risen in price, especially those located near transportation hubs and future metro stations.
Impact of EXPO-2027 on the development of Belgrade
Preparations for the World Expo involve large-scale investments in the city’s infrastructure. In addition to Surcin, changes will affect other districts of the capital. Work is already underway on the construction of a new bus station, and the modernization of the Prokop railway station is nearing completion.
The subway will also be an important step in the development of Belgrade. The first line will connect key areas of the city, which will reduce the load on the road network and simplify the movement of residents and visitors to the capital.
Forecasts and prospects
Experts agree that EXPO-2027 will have a long-term impact on the real estate market in Belgrade. In addition to the price increase in Surcin, real estate is expected to rise in price along the routes of the future metro, as well as in the central and prestigious areas of the city.
The Serbian government states that EXPO-2027 will be a stimulus for economic growth, attracting foreign investment and improving infrastructure. These changes will make Belgrade even more attractive for tourists, residents and businessmen.
Thus, EXPO-2027 and related projects, including the metro, are opening a new chapter in Belgrade’s development, strengthening its position as one of the key centers of Southeast Europe.
Representatives of the Government of Serbia, the City of Belgrade and PowerChina today signed an agreement for the construction of the first phase of the Belgrade Metro Line 1 worth EUR 720 million.
The agreement for Lot 2 of the first phase of Line 1 of the Belgrade Metro covers the design and execution of works, including preparatory activities and the procurement of TBM machines for tunneling.
The preparatory and construction work is expected to last 45 months plus two years.
The document was signed in the Serbian government building by Minister of Public Investment Darko Glisic, Acting Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure; Acting Deputy Head of the Belgrade City Administration – Secretary of the Public Transport Secretariat Radovan Kremić; Director of the Belgrade Metro and Train Company Andrej Mladenović, together with a representative of the Chinese company Power China Han Jiping.
As noted, the new agreement makes it possible to allocate a separate Lot 2, which will be financed from the Serbian budget and will enter into force immediately, which will facilitate the faster implementation of the construction of the first phase of Line 1 of the Belgrade Metro.
Avtostrada Group of Companies has been recognized as the winner of the procurement procedure for the construction of the metro in Vynohradar, its founder Maxim Shkil said.
“We will start work without advances, at the expense of our own working capital. For us, the decision to enter the metro construction market is strategic, the company has been preparing for this for 3 years,” Shkil wrote on Facebook.
According to the public procurement platform Prozorro, the winner of the tender was determined on July 12 with a price of UAH 13 billion 785 million, which is slightly lower than the stated expected cost of the purchase of UAH 13 billion 956 million 843 thousand 711.13. The decision can be appealed until July 18.
The terms of the procurement stipulate the completion of construction (5th and 6th launch complex) of the Syretsko-Pecherska subway line to the Vynohradar residential area by December 30, 2026.
Shkil said that before the start of work, a detailed analysis of the status of work performed by previous contractors is required. Next, it is necessary to compare the actual amount of work performed and those that should be performed in accordance with the existing design solutions. After that, it is necessary to adjust the project in terms of the scope, type of work, and cost.
“For this purpose, Avtostrada has its own design institute with a separate underground construction unit, where employees have considerable experience in metro design. Accordingly, we will start this stage of work immediately,” said the founder of the group of companies.
In parallel with the documentary work, it is planned to start the construction of the metro to Vynohradar in the coming months.
He noted that there are difficulties with organizing the construction process at the highest possible pace, i.e. nine construction sites with round-the-clock operation.
“In today’s realities, it is impossible to ensure such an approach from the very first days, as the subway construction industry has been practically lost over the past ten years. From the very first days, Avtostrada will engage its employees, and in parallel, to reach the maximum construction schedule, we will recruit and train personnel, which will actually revive the metro construction industry,” said Shkil.
According to him, a significant factor that will affect the pace of construction is timely funding from the state for the work.
“We set ourselves the task of reaching the full pace of work around the clock in all construction sites in 2025, provided that we have adequate funding. In total, we plan to employ more than 4000 people. The total investment in this project will be more than $50 million. Next month, the company plans to contract the necessary equipment for the construction of the subway for more than $30 million. In addition, to avoid construction interruptions, we are counting on loans and our own working capital of up to UAH 1 billion. – These funds will be used in case the customer has a delay in financing. This will allow us to cover short cash gaps and continue to operate,” Shkil said.
As reported, on May 13, Kyiv Metro announced a tender for the continuation of the construction of the Syretsko-Pecherska line towards the Vynohradar residential area with a total cost of UAH 13,956 million.
In December 2023, Kyiv Metro terminated the contract with Kyivmetrobud JSC in court due to unsatisfactory terms of construction works performed by the contractor. The claim also seeks to recover a portion of the prepayment, the use of which was not confirmed by the relevant acts of completion. As of May 2024, the facility has constructed a right distillation tunnel with a length of almost 1,250 meters from Mostytska station to Syrets station, and completed the construction of the main structures of the distillation ventilation unit. Also, the wall-in-soil method of enclosing structures, monolithic and reinforced concrete support of the pit with metal structures – with excavation and removal of soil – were partially installed; the main structures of the combined traction substation were built; two-tier tunnels were partially constructed, etc.
KP “Kharkiv Metro” on August 16 announced a tender for the purchase of services of compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles (OSAGO), according to the system of electronic public procurement Prozorro.
The expected cost is UAH 137,175 thousand.
Documents for participation are accepted until August 24, 2023.
As reported, the winner of a similar tender a year earlier was IC Ukrainian Fire Insurance Company.
From May 15, the intervals between trains of the Kiev subway will be reduced, and second vestibules will be opened at some stations, according to the Kiev City State Administration
“From Monday, intervals between trains will be reduced on each subway line. The waiting time during peak hours on weekdays will be 3-4 minutes, during off-peak – 6-8 minutes. Also the interval between trains will be increased on weekends, during the day the interval between trains will be 6-7 minutes,” – said in a message of the KSCA in Telegram-channel on Friday.
At nine stations will work the second exits. At the station “Obolon” lobby number 1 will work (in the direction of “Minskaya” station). Concourse 2 will remain closed because of repairs.
Recall that “Akademgorodok”, “Darnitsa”, “Lesnaya”, “Minskaya”, “Pochayna” and “Vydubychi” stations have two exits.
KP “Kharkiv Metro” warns passengers about possible difficulties due to the unstable situation with electricity.
“Due to the unstable situation in the regional energy network, temporary difficulties are possible with the transportation of passengers along the metro lines. Please understand the situation and apologize for the temporary inconvenience!”, the company’s telegram channel says.
On Tuesday morning, the subway suspended the transportation of passengers on all three lines for technical reasons. At the moment, the movement of trains has been resumed, but the intervals of movement have been increased to 20 minutes.
