politics
March 23, 2026
Cartwheels at the Price of a Carriage
Comparison with others reveals a system where money is more important than life and how terrible the price of corruption, irresponsibility, and improvisation is in managing large infrastructure projects.
TL;DR
- A railway station canopy collapse in Novi Sad killed 16 people, highlighting issues of corruption and irresponsibility in infrastructure management.
- Serbia's modernization of an existing 183 km railway line between Belgrade and Kelebija costs nearly double what Egypt is paying to build a new, extensive high-speed rail network.
- Egypt's project includes new trains, 15 years of maintenance, and training programs for local staff, whereas Serbia's project focuses mainly on modernization without these components.
- The cost per kilometer in Serbia is $12.3 million, with potential additional costs, while Egypt's cost, after adjustments for infrastructure only, is $6.85 million per kilometer for new construction.
- The article attributes Serbia's higher costs to corruption, lack of transparency and competition, and a failure to implement a long-term strategic plan for railway development.
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