The construction of the Belgrade Metro represents the largest civil engineering project in Serbia and is expected to be a primary driver of economic growth in the coming years. For decades, public transport in Belgrade relied solely on buses, trams, and the city railway (BG Voz). The development of a comprehensive underground system is expected to have a transformative effect on commuting patterns and travel times.
Belgrade remains the largest city in Europe without a functional underground metro. While the project faced delays for many years, its commencement is now certain, with preparatory works already well underway, says Dejan Krajinović, EECFA's Serbian analyst.
The project represents a large-scale international collaboration between China and France. The Chinese construction giant Powerchina is tasked with tunnel boring, while the French company Alstom will provide the rolling stock and system management. Recent reports from China confirm that custom-made Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) for the Belgrade Metro are ready and are set to be shipped to Serbia this June.
Line 1 of the Belgrade Metro is divided into two phases: Phase 1 spans 15km and includes 15 stations, while Phase 2 is a planned extension of an additional 6km and 5 stations. The majority of Phase 1 will be underground, with 11km consisting of deep tunnels and 2km constructed using the cut-and-cover method. Some stations will reach up to 40m below ground level.
Estimates suggest that Line 1 could cost between €3.5 billion and €3.8 billion, meaning the project's scale will have a tremendous impact on civil engineering output from 2027 onwards. This is a key infrastructure development aimed at boosting growth against recessionary trends in the EU and an unstable global economic environment.
