It's officially called Skadarlija Market, but everyone knows it as Bailonie's Market. Named after the Czech Ignjat Bajloni, it was created between the two world wars near his brewery, and since 1927 the people of Belgrade have called it that. For almost a century of its existence, it has become a recognizable part and symbol of this part of the city.
Therefore, it is not surprising that I mentioned that something could change there, stirring up emotions and causing reactions from the public.
New plan
Last year, the City of Belgrade announced a tender for the preparation of technical documentation for the reconstruction of Bajlonjive market, but soon canceled it due to, as it was explained at the time, "redistribution of activities" with PUK "Belgrade Metro and Train".
Mthe editors then wrote that according to that plan, Bajlonija's market should be modeled after Palilulska, that is, it should be completely demolished and a complex with an underground garage should be built in its place.
Now a new plan has been announced.
According to him, in the General Regulation Plan (GRP) of the railway systems in Belgrade, the construction of a metro station is planned near the Skadarlija market, and from the documents that are available for public inspection until August 1, it can be seen that the plan includes a complete reconstruction of the market, as well as the construction underground garages, it says Crew.
According to the plan, the market space is defined on two levels - the upper open space of the market on the square and the basement space of the market hall. The market plateau is uneven and forms an upper plateau with access from the area around the Bitef Theater and a lower square with access from the direction of Skadarska street.
The central area of the market is covered, functionally organized in a way that meets the hygienic conditions of a modern market area. A public garage with a capacity of 305 vehicles is planned within the market.
What's going on over the hill?
The Ecological Uprising movement warns that they are planning to turn the famous hundred-year-old Belgrade market into a shopping center under the pretext of building a metro station.
"Bajloni was already reconstructed in 2016, and the announced metro, in the best case, will not pass here until 2030." This is another corrupt scheme to destroy the core of our city, rob the budget and prepare the ground for a new megalomaniacal construction," it was announced on the Facebook page of the Ecological Uprising.
As stated, they are against "turning our wonderful market, the historic pearl of the city, into some kind of scalamería like the Palilul Market, nor a new hill of concrete - but to preserve Bajloni - because it is the heart of Belgrade's spirit and the pearl of our history." In that place, murmurs, acquaintances, haggling, smiles, life have always started."
On the other hand, former city planner Đorđe Bobić said for A new one that he does not have the details, but that he roughly knows how the whole idea of Byloni's market is conceived.
"I think it's an okay story, if the subway is built at all." That point, Bylonie's market is one of the central places in the city. The old idea is to reconstruct it and make it in a different way and to integrate it with the metro," says Bobić.
Nova's interlocutor adds that it is part of the metro system, but that talking about that station now is a marketing story of the authorities.
"I found out a month ago that the subway line along Savska Street will be difficult to implement and will cost an awful lot of money because the geological report was incorrect and some sewage pipes were not registered," says Bobić.
All this seems very frivolous to Bobić, and when it comes to the reconstruction of the market, he says that it would be great if it were done.
Bobić also believes that all Belgrade markets require some new aspects like European ones.
BG/Ekapija/Nova.rs
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