A section of a recently reconstructed railway underpass collapsed in Subotica, Serbia's northernmost city, raising fresh questions about construction quality in infrastructure projects across the Balkans.
The underpass, located in the city center, had been part of broader railway modernization efforts along the Belgrade-Budapest corridor. Sections of wall and earth gave way without warning, according to local media Subotičke.rs, though no injuries were reported as the collapse occurred outside peak traffic hours.
The incident fits a troubling pattern of infrastructure failures that have eroded public confidence in major construction projects. Just months ago, fifteen people died when a railway station canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, triggering sustained student protests demanding accountability for construction standards and government oversight.
"We're seeing repeated failures in projects that were recently completed or renovated," observed an engineering professor at the University of Novi Sad who requested anonymity. "This points to systemic issues with either design standards, material quality, construction supervision, or all three."
The Belgrade-Budapest rail corridor represents Serbia's most significant infrastructure investment in decades, with Chinese state companies serving as primary contractors. The project was central to the government's narrative of modernization and regional connectivity, promising to reduce travel times and boost economic ties with Central Europe.
In the Balkans, as across post-conflict regions, the path forward requires acknowledging the past without being imprisoned by it. Infrastructure development should represent progress, yet when new construction fails prematurely, it undermines both public safety and the social contract between citizens and government.
The Subotica underpass collapse drew immediate comparisons to the Novi Sad disaster, where investigations revealed potential documentation irregularities and raised questions about contractor qualifications. Students and civil society groups have demanded transparent investigation processes and accountability for officials responsible for project oversight.
Authorities have not yet announced whether the collapsed section will be investigated or what caused the structural failure. The silence echoes broader concerns about government responsiveness to infrastructure quality problems that have become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Subotica, a historically multiethnic city with significant Hungarian minority population, has long prided itself on well-maintained Central European architectural heritage. The collapse of modern infrastructure in a city known for preserving historic buildings carries particular symbolic weight.
As Serbia continues pursuing EU accession, infrastructure quality and construction transparency represent more than technical issues. They reflect fundamental questions about governance standards, public accountability, and whether major investment projects serve citizens or simply create opportunities for corruption.
The underpass collapse may seem minor compared to the Novi Sad tragedy. Yet each failure chips away at public confidence that promised modernization will deliver genuine improvement rather than expensive mediocrity masked by ribbon-cutting ceremonies.
