Work On The Intermodal Terminal in Batajnica Marked
Belgrade gets an intermodal terminal, which encourages the development of modern combined transport of goods by increasing the participation of railways and creating a partnership with road transport. In this way, the railway becomes more competitive on the market, at the same time following all future tendencies in transport using modern technologies.
The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone marked the beginning of works on the construction of the intermodal terminal in Batajnica, but also the official beginning of the campaign in the field of connection. The event was attended by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, Minister of European Integration, Jadranka Joksimović and Minister of Construction and Transport, Tomislav Momirović and Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia, Ambassador Sam Fabrizi, as well as representatives of the government and city authorities. , The European Investment Bank and the Transport Community.
This will mean a lot to Serbia. There will be a kind of wider logistics center here, where it will be possible to reload goods from trucks to trains, the so-called "dry port". Vienna has three such terminals, there are over a hundred in the whole of Germany. This is a condition without which we cannot move forward, primarily because of work, because of the profit difference for companies, but also because of the lower price for ordinary people, for ordinary consumers. It is also important because it is part of the program for environmental protection, for a greener Serbia, something that we signed and accepted at the recent Sofia Summit.
says the president of Serbia.
This terminal will increase the current capacity of combined transport in Serbia by 8 times, is located in the industrial zone in Batajnica, and the total investment is 15.5 million euros, of which the EU finances 90% of these works through grants, while the remaining amount is financed by the Republic of Serbia.
The year 2020 will be remembered for the COVID pandemic, but also for our additional efforts to provide significant support to the economy. Connecting markets for faster and safer circulation of people and goods, implementing investments, providing services and improving the economy - these are the key elements on which the EU is based. In 2015, the EU allocated 1 billion euros to the integration agenda to help accelerate the construction of modern transport and energy links between the Western Balkans and the EU. I am happy to see that five years later, Serbia is one of the largest beneficiaries of EU connection funds for the region, with over 200 million euros in grants for six investment projects. The construction of this intermodal terminal in Batajnica is one of these projects, together with the Modernization of the Nis-Brestovac railway (45 million euros), the construction of the Nis-Plocnik highway (Phase 1 of the Peace Highway for 40 million euros); modernization of the railway Nis - Dimitrovgrad (74 million euros); rehabilitation of the Djerdap I dam (11.4 million euros) and rehabilitation of the Djerdap II dam (17 million euros). It is an important part of the Connecting Agenda and an example of good synergy between the EU, national and local authorities.
The new terminal will connect road and rail transport infrastructure and facilitate the use of railways as an environmentally friendly type of transport. By improving traffic connections, we are practically improving the social and economic standards of citizens
concluded Ambassador Sam Fabrizi.
Today's event also marks the beginning of the campaign in the field of connections, which is being implemented by the European Union in Serbia, in cooperation with the Ministry of European Integration.
The partnership between Serbia and the EU is visible at every step through numerous projects implemented with EU funds in different parts of Serbia and different areas. This is a step forward in Serbia's European path, because as important as the clusters of chapters are, so important are the funds from the EU that we use responsibly in order to further develop Serbia, business infrastructure, which are also important for EU companies. It is through the project of construction of the Inter-modal terminal in Batajnica that the connection of road and railway traffic is enabled. In addition, this project has an impact not only on transport but also on air quality, ie the quality of the environment in Belgrade, because it contributes to reducing emissions of harmful gases due to the reduction of the presence of heavy transport vehicles on our streets.
stated the Minister for European Integration and national IPA coordinator Jadranka Joksimović.
Combined transport should contribute to achieving: reliable, predictable, flexible, faster and cheaper transport services; further liberalization of the railway market; development of intermodality infrastructure, with interoperability capacities; improving the perception of transport policy and focusing on quality data.
Recognizing the benefits of improved connectivity, the European Union set aside one billion euros in grants by 2020 as part of the Connection Agenda by 2020 in order to speed up the construction of modern transport and energy flows connecting the EU. Serbia is one of the largest recipients of EU connectivity funds in the region and has so far provided more than 203m euros in grants for certaininvestment projects. These funds will help build a modern road and rail network connecting Belgrade with other Western Balkan capitals and neighboring EU countries, creating opportunities for economic development, jobs, safer and faster transport and trade flows with the European Union.
The intermodal terminal project includes works, construction supervision, procurement of equipment and technical assistance to the terminal operator. The works include the construction of access roads and railways, storage and maneuvering areas and an administrative facility with parking for trucks.