Photo: Tanjug/Dragan KujundžićThe tender for the procurement of new trams in Belgrade has been suspended for the second time in five months. The media speculate that this procedure is aimed at the Turkish manufacturer Bozonkaj, and the Center for Local Self-Government indicates that Siemens from Kragujevac, a local tram factory that operates under the world-famous brand, is being bypassed.
The tender for the procurement of new trams in Belgrade has been suspended. Ever since a total of 30 CAF Spanish trams were delivered more than ten years ago, the citizens of Belgrade have been waiting for new rail vehicles. The Center for Local Self-Government (CLS) says that the tender has been temporarily suspended due to a complaint filed to protect the bidder's rights.
Forbes it says that the series of technical specifications given in the tender documentation contains so many conditions that need to be fulfilled (from technical to visual details) that it is not difficult for the contracting authority to target a specific bidder in that way.
Although the public is mostly speculating that this procedure is aimed at the Turkish manufacturer Bozonkaj, the specifications of the only model they produce show that even they would not be able to fulfill the tender conditions at first glance.
The biggest problem is that the required track width is 1.000 mm, but the Bozonkaja specification states that their tram runs on rails with a spacing of 1.435 mm.
Siemens from Kragujevac has suitable trams
Director of CLS Nikola Jovanović told "Vreme" that this organization has repeatedly appealed to all bidders to be offered equal conditions in that tender, including Siemens from Kragujevac, but also other renowned European factories.
He adds that there is no doubt that the Siemens Mobility factory in Kragujevac can produce trams with the same gauge as in Belgrade.
"This factory produces trams for a track width of 1.435 mm - the Avenio model and for a track width of 1.000 mm - the Avenio M model," says Jovanović.
He recalls that just three years ago, the then Deputy Mayor of Belgrade, Goran Vesić, announced the possibility of purchasing Siemens trams, which are manufactured in Kragujevac, for the needs of the Belgrade GSP.
"How could these trams be in circulation for purchase less than three years ago, and today those who run this city are thinking about buying some trams from unknown manufacturers, when only 140 km from Belgrade we have our own factory operating under a world-famous brand?", he asks. Jovanovic.
- Only 13 working days for submitting offers for trams;
- Only 18 months to produce
and delivery trams;– Unusual technical specifications.
Price, "only" €6 million per piece.
Take it easy doctor with those Turks,
this is still a little bit our Belgrade. pic.twitter.com/MJPiwSchT5— Nikola Jovanović (@Nik_Jov) May 6, 2024
Shapic: "Unlike them, I am not a charlatan and a dilettante"
In November last year, the tender for the purchase of new trams was also suspended. At that time, the city planned 25 million euros, excluding VAT, for the purchase of 59,5 trams, and now it is more than 137 million.
President of the Provisional Authority of the City of Belgrade When announcing the purchase of new trams, Aleksandar Šapić said that the capital will get over 100 new trams, will have several hundred buses and city transport that we have never had before.
"Because I am serious about this business, unlike them, I am not a charlatan and a dilettante," said Šapić.
He assured the public that the procurement of new trams is fair and honest, but he did not seem to have convinced the producers who want to participate in the tender. The tender was therefore temporarily suspended.
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A black picture and the breakdown of the rule of law subscribeThe archive of the weekly Vreme includes all our digital editions, since the very beginning of our work. All issues can be downloaded in PDF format, by purchasing the digital edition, or you can read all available texts from the selected issue.
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