Sumadija Curve instead of Sargan Eight - Arandjelovac prepares new attraction for tourists

It is most likely that trains will be passing again through the town at the foot of Bukulja mountain, carrying tourists eager to see Bukovicka spa resort, the slopes of Vencac mountain and the Risovac cave. The idea that came from the town officials a long time ago, who got it while observing Sarganska Osmica (the Sargan Eight) at the foot of Mokra Gora, is now much closer to its realization.

Namely, the civic association Bastina i Budućnost - Arandjelovac 1859 (Heritage and Future - Arandjelovac 1859) came to an idea few years ago to encourage all those interested in reviving the narrow-gage railroad (Cira train) on the route Arandjelovac-Mladenovac, popularly called Sumadijska Krivulja (the Sumadija Curve).

- Cira train would be passing through gentle landscapes, orchards, meadows, vineyards and typical villages of Sumadija. Everything would be as clean and beautiful as hundred and more years ago - said people at that civic association.

- People riding on that train would enjoy the view of Orasac, Oplenac, Kosmaj, Vencac, Bukulja and Rudnik, the Homolje foothills on the other side of the Morava river, Povlen and Maljen in the west and Avala in the north - nearly a half of Serbia.

(Arandjelovac)

A statement on the website of that association reads that a very important detail is that the entire route is preserved, including some train stops and docks.

General project is under design

The municipality of Arandjelovac has recently concluded an agreement with the Belgrade-based company Bin-ing to design a general project to revitalize and refurbish the tourist narrow-gage railroad called Sumadijska Krivulja, for which the municipality allocated RSD 3.15 million (exclusive of VAT).

Arandjelovac Mayor Vlada Gajic says to eKapija that the project is still at its beginning, underlining that, in addition to the construction of the luxury hotel Izvor in that town, this project as well is of great importance for the development of tourism in this part of Serbia.

- What is important now is that there is a significant initiative and substantial support from people wishing for that idea to achieve success. We've protected the route of Sumadijska Krivulja in our spatial and land-utilization plans, and our cooperation with the Serbian Railways is great - says Gajic.

(Vlada Gajic, mayor of Arandjelovac)

- I expect the project design, for which we've already allocated funds, to be completed within the next few months. Then we will move to the second, more significant phase: the appointment of a strategic partner - he adds.

When asked how they plan to find the money for that project, Gajic says:

- My vision is that it should be a public-private partnership between the municipality of Arandjelovac and a potential investor. We would contribute logistics, while all additional investments would come from private sources.

The mayor of Arandjelovac expects an invitation for bids from potential strategic partners to be announced until the year's end.

Taking Cira train to the town

(Sumadijska Krivulja in the past)

It seems that the citizens of Arandjelovac who are familiar with this idea already grasp its significance, which is why many of them started planning investments in ethnic facilities, construction of tourist facilities in ethnic style, wine cellars and other facilities a long time ago. The price of land along the railroad is slowly rising, it was announced on the website of aforementioned civic association.

Sumadijska Krivulja would be an extra reason to visit other tourist sights, such as Bukovicka spa resort, the Risovac cave, Orasac, Mermer i Zvuci (Marble and Sounds) event, which would also lead to a bigger number of overnight stays in Arandjelovac and larger sales of agricultural products, honey, wine, brandy, etc.

What is also important to mention is that the only profit makers in the railway sector in Serbia are Romantika train and Sarganska Osmica.

Jelena Djelic