CITIZENS CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY: Footage of damaged support columns at Prokop railway station goes viral! (VIDEO)

In recent days, videos showing damage to support columns at the Beograd Centar (Prokop) railway station have been circulating on social media. The same damage was observed yesterday by a journalist from Danas, and readers have been reaching out with concerns about the station’s safety, given the visible structural damage.

At first glance, the station—officially opened in 2018—appears modern and well-maintained. However, it fails to deliver on promised safe travel conditions.

The videos reveal a different reality, exposing cracks and structural irregularities throughout the large station complex.

Prokop – železnička stanica u Beogradu koja je već 3 puta svečano otvarana, a i dalje nema upotrebnu dozvolu.
pic.twitter.com/35OZcrcgrf
— Jelena Berar (@BerarJelena) February 14, 2025

Notably, the support columns between platforms two and three, where hundreds of passengers wait for trains daily, show visible damage.

Chunks of plaster have already started falling from large cracks, and attempts to conceal the damage with debris only draw more attention to the issue.

FIND OUT MORE IN ENGLISH:

Expert Concerns

Danijel Dašić, a civil engineer, stated that while the situation may not be immediately dangerous, any visible crack is a warning sign. He emphasized that significant plaster cracking could indicate an underlying structural issue that requires inspection.

“Technically, it seems that the plaster—applied to cover the main structure for aesthetic reasons—has cracked. If I were a construction inspector, I would order all the plaster removed to check for damage to the concrete support beams. This cracking could be due to temperature expansion and contraction, but it’s also possible that minor shifts in the structure have occurred. There are multiple possible causes,” Dašić explained.

He highlighted that concrete support beams weigh thousands of tons, making any damage a serious concern.

“At the very least, the cracks should be opened up for inspection to determine the condition of the concrete supports. It is also necessary to check for related cracks in the main load-bearing structures, which are extremely strong construction elements. If serious damage is found, access for passengers should be restricted, and train traffic should be suspended,” Dašić stated.

He criticized poor construction practices, warning that improper techniques can have severe consequences.

“Even applying plaster correctly requires expertise, but we are dealing with people who seem to have only walked past the Faculty of Civil Engineering a few times,” he remarked.

Calls for Inspection

While debates continue over passenger safety and the station’s functionality, Dašić noted one positive aspect: the main elements of Prokop were built before the current administration. However, he added that concerns remain, as “everything being reconstructed nowadays seems to be falling apart. Perhaps they should consider reconstructing the government as well.”

Master architect Ines Radović told Danas that after seeing the footage online, she contacted the construction inspection department, demanding an urgent investigation.

“I am writing regarding the footage from the Prokop railway station in Belgrade, which is being shared on social media and clearly shows significant damage to the support columns. I urge you to determine, as soon as possible, whether this is just surface-layer cracking due to uneven expansion/contraction or if the integrity of the support beams is compromised—or if the footage is fabricated,” Radović wrote in her official request to inspectors.