After the tragedy in Novi Sad, the Faculty of Civil Engineering appeals for strict compliance with technical standards

The recent tragedy at the train station in Novi Sad, in which 14 people died and three were injured due to the fall of the canopy, caused violent reactions from the public, and the Faculty of Civil Engineering in Belgrade also spoke out. Dean of this institution, Prof. Branislav Bajat, Ph.D., expressed his concern about the ever-present neglect of technical standards and regulations in the construction industry, stressing the necessity of consistent enforcement of legal norms in this area.

Illustration (Photo: Pexels)

The Faculty of Civil Engineering emphasized that the independence of engineers’ work is a basic prerequisite for safety in all phases of the construction process, from design and construction to reconstruction and supervision. However, they warn that they are engineers are often exposed to external pressureswhich can lead to compromising the quality of work and safety of facilities.

Also, the faculty reminds that owners and investors are obliged by law to regular maintenance and inspection of structureswhich is especially important for facilities with a high frequency of visitors. In this light, the Faculty of Civil Engineering expresses its readiness to contribute its professional capacities to the objective determination of the cause of the accident in Novi Sad.