Nikolic, Yakunin discuss reconstruction of Serbian railways

BELGRADE - Ongoing projects aimed at reconstruction of Serbian railroads with the help from Russian Railways constitute a good basis for realisation of other projects that bear importance for the country's economic and social development, Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic stated on Monday in the talks with President of Russian Railways company Vladimir Yakunin.

As the best example to support this statement, Nikolic listed the project of reconstruction of the Belgrade-Bar railway section.

Yakunin informed Nikolic that after slight delays due to May floods, the planned order of reconstruction, construction and modernisation works on Serbian railroads has been finally resumed.

All the works planned for the year of 2014 will be completed within the envisaged deadlines and the share of works planned for 2015 will be carried out at an even faster pace than originally planned.

Yakunin said that the Russian Railways company signed two additional contracts with the Serbian Institute of Transportation CIP, adding that the Serbian institute and the Russian company would perform the works on the Belgrade-Novi Sad railway section together. The project should be completed within the planned deadlines, the president of Russian Railways said.

Yakunin informed the Serbian president that the funds of the Russian Railways have been used to reconstruct a primary school in Pancevo and added that the company is willing to provide assistance in the recovery of three to five more schools in Serbia.

He suggested that a programme should be prepared for the recovery of several schools along the route of railroad reconstruction and construction works so that the facilities may be thoroughly revitalised through joint efforts....