Airport in Divci to become important cargo-tourist port, whereas Valjevo should finally obtain transportation center

THe idea of construction of cargo-transportation center in Valjevo, 25 years old, is again in the focus of interest. The backbone of all plans are Bar's railway, i.e. Valjevo-Loznica railway, future highway to the seaside and airport in Divci.

Back in 1996, company "Aerodrom" was founded with the primary task to organize construction of modern business-tourism airport. There are many such airports in Europe. The plan was that, in the first phase, the airport accepts airplanes with up to 20 seats, whereas, later, it should be prepared for airplanes of STR class, i.e. with 70 seats.

- That airport would probably never be the real passenger airport like the one in Surčin, but, in addition to reception of small tourist flights, it would be a cargo port for transportation of products from the Valjevo region. The products are, first of all, raspberries and other fruit, of which price is multiplicated if the fresh fruit reaches buyer - Jordan Tanasković, manager of company "Aerodrom" from Valjevo, explains.

According to his words, the runway in Divci, 1,250 m long, will be paved or covered with concrete. The construction of airport building with the flight control, customs, border police, restaurant and small hotel is in the pipeline. Company "Aerodrom" has already finished all projects.

- The investment for the first phase, without modern equipment for night flying, amounts to about 2.5m EUR. What is very important for the realization of this project is that many foreign and domestic investors are interested in it - Tanasković points out.

Also, all municipalities from the Kolubara region, as well as Ljubovija, Krupanj, Koceljeva and many others, are interested in the construction of airport in Divci.

- Here is where the two useful initiatives meet. Thanks to the development of international road corridors, first of all the South Highway, as well as Belgrade-Bar railway and future Valjevo-Loznica railway, we have good conditions for founding of cargo-transportation center. That would enable Valjevo to get new quality through combination of road, railway and cargo air transportation - says Radomir Stevanović, investment councillor of mayor of Valjevo.