Prokop: A serious reconstruction is necessary

July 10, 2025

Link to the original article: https://vreme.com/en/mozaik/pukotine-na-prokopu-nuzna-ozbiljna-rekontrukcija-iz-bezbednosnih-razloga/

Less than two years after its official opening, the railway station “Belgrade Center” – better known as Prokop – is facing problems. Cracks in the platform beams and insufficient reinforcement require reconstruction, and the authorities have already initiated procedures for approval of the works, writes “Forbes Serbia”. The “Railway Infrastructure of Serbia” has also advertised, which claims that the railway station in Prokop is safe for use, as well as that the planned work on strengthening the platform beams refers to those that were built in 1997.

Less than two years after it was officially opened, railway “Belgrade Center” station, better known as Prokop, must be reconstructed.

At the end of May, the railway infrastructure of Serbia received the location conditions for the reconstruction of the platform beams at the railway station, writes “Forbes Serbia”.

“On the platform beams of the Belgrade Center railway station, in the middle of the span, it was observed that cracks appeared in the lower zone. Based on the tests carried out by the IMS institute from Belgrade, it was concluded that the reinforcement in those beams is significantly smaller than designed”, it is stated.

After the examination, subsequent computational analyzes were performed and it was concluded that it is necessary to strengthen the existing beams.

Also, between the concrete foundations and the platform beams that are being reinforced, metal columns are planned.

Location conditions issued

The location conditions for Infrastructure were issued on May 28 by the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, as the competent authority for issuing that document.

On July 2, the Railway Infrastructure of Serbia also submitted a request to be issued with a decision on the approval of the execution of works. The procedure for that request is still ongoing, writes “Forbes”.

At the beginning of July, Infrastructure included in the public procurement plan for this year a procurement called “building reconstruction – strengthening of platform beams of the Belgrade Centar Railway Station”.

This acquisition should be announced in the third quarter, which runs from July to the end of September.

According to location conditions, the works will be performed on two cadastral plots: 2855/115, 2855/116. Both are located in the central part of the station, i.e. they include the platforms.

Since it is about specific works, the works can only be performed by companies with sufficient experience and trained engineering staff, it is indicated in the document with location conditions, and “special attention must be paid to the observance of occupational safety measures, because the works are performed in complex conditions”, it is stated.

The works can be carried out “without disturbing the function of the object”, with minimal occupation in the places where the works are carried out.

Renovation of two pillars

In addition to the reconstruction of the beams, Infrastruktura received approval in April for the rehabilitation of two pillars, which are located within the underground part of the Prokop railway station – on plot 2855/116.

On July 8, Infrastructure submitted the application for those works, and the procedure is ongoing. That is, the Ministry of Construction should issue a certificate on the notification of works.

The use permit for the station building arrived in February

The station building was opened in October 2023, but it received its use permit at the end of February this year.

The construction permit for the station building with a parking lot was issued in July 2022. The value of the works according to that permit was supposed to be about 1,8 billion dinars.

However, the permit was changed in September 2023. One of the changes referred to an increase in the value of the works to 2,34 billion dinars, writes Forbes.

Commercial and business facilities received a use permit

In June of this year, the use permit was also granted for business and commercial facilities C1 and C2 (on plot 2855/115) and D1 (on plot 2855/116). These three buildings have a ground floor and five floors.

Also, the use permit from June refers to the parking lot with 257 spaces, which is located on plot 2855/113.

The building permit for construction works on these business-commercial facilities and parking lots was issued in August 2022. However, that permit also included the construction of facility D2, which is not mentioned in the use permit.

The value of the works, according to the construction permit, was 2,17 billion dinars. However, the works on this part have become more expensive – to about 2,57 billion dinars, as can be seen in the amended construction permit.

Opening of the station in October 2023.

Photo: Tanjug/Strahinja Aćimović/nrThe ceremonial opening of the trench in October 2023 was attended by the state leadership

In the second half of October 2023, the Prokop railway station was officially opened.

The station and the new station building were toured by the mayor of Belgrade, Aleksandar Šapić, and the president of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, accompanied by the then prime minister, Ana Brnabić, and the president of the Republic of Srpska, Milorad Dodik.

The project for the construction of Prokop was adopted in 1971, while the conceptual solution was completed three years later. The works started in October 1977.

Photo: Tanjug / Strahinja AćimovićVučić at the opening of Prokop

The “Railway Infrastructure of Serbia” announced about the safety of the Prokop station

“Serbian Railway Infrastructure” announced that the Belgrade Center railway station in Prokop is safe for the use and functioning of railway traffic.

The planned work on strengthening the platform beams in Prokop, as they state, refers to the beams built in 1997.

“That part of the station is not included in the works on the construction of the new station building in Prokop, which will be opened in 2023. The planned works include the rehabilitation of two pillars below the level of 105 and those works will start in the next days, and their value is about three million dinars,” the statement claims.

In a few months, work will begin on strengthening the platform beams below the elevation of 105.5, and the value of these works will amount to about 28 million dinars.

The rehabilitation includes the local zone of damage and weighting of the upper part of the column, with the aim of increasing its bearing capacity and reducing static effects.

During the execution of the works, there will be no suspension of railway traffic in Prokop, announced “Serbian Railway Infrastructure”.

Source: Forbes/Vreme