Getting to work by boat: Belgrade to introduce public river transport

The deputy mayor of Belgrade, Goran Vesic, said that in the coming period Belgrade will introduce river transport as part of public transport, and that season tickets valid in the existing transportation system will also be used there.

"In order to know what to ask for from a future partner in this job, as well as where future public water transport stops will be, that is, the frequency of the boats, we have announced a tender for a feasibility study on public river transport in Belgrade," Vesic said.

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According to a statement from the city administration, Vesic said that the deadline for selecting experts to produce the study is February 12.

He remarked that Belgrade has almost 200 kilometers of river banks and that there is no city in Europe with such access to water that also doesn't have developed passenger transport on its rivers.

Photo: Tanjug/ Milica Nikolic

"Investment in river transport is much lower than investment in roads. Such transportation would be faster and more efficient, as traffic congestion is increasing in Belgrade due to almost 740,000 vehicles. Of those vehicles, almost 540,000 are cars, which is 90,000 more than six years ago. River transport is faster, more efficient and more environmentally friendly," explained the deputy mayor.

Vesic added that he believes Belgrade has the conditions to develop passenger transport on the rivers thanks to its location, especially its orientation in spatial development, from Obrenovac to Zemun and Grocka.

He specified that the feasibility study would represent the basis for launching a public-private partnership tender through which the city would seek a partner for river transport.

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(Telegraf.rs)