Transport in Pristina
Pristina's transport forms the hub of road, rail and air networks in Kosovo. The city's buses, trains and planes together all serve to maintain a high level of connectivity between Pristina many different districts and beyond. An analysis by the Traffic Police has shown that from 240,000 cars registered in Kosovo, around 100,000 cars (or 41%) are from the District of Pristina.[1]
Roads[]
Roads in Pristina were in bad condition after the Kosovo War, forcing government investment to improve them. Today, all roads that connect the major villages with the urban centre are asphalted.[2] Roads that connect Pristina with other cities form the main routes of Kosovo's network. The M2, which starts from the north with Central Serbia, passes through Pristina and reaches the southern border with North Macedonia, shortly linking Pristina with the Pan European Corridor X. The M25 starts in Niš and passes through Pristina and Prizren, eventually reaching the border with Albania. This road is becoming more important for its south branch, linking Kosovo with Albania, where construction of the Rrëshen – Blinisht – Kukës road is ongoing. The M9 passes through the east administrative line with Central Serbia, through Pristina to Peja to the border with Montenegro.[3]
The circular route around the city of Pristina and Germia Park will serve the villages of Mramor and Lugare, as well as ameliorate traffic heading in the direction of Gjilan and the east side of the city. In addition, the interior circular and the center routes will be created, with the objective to pass through the center of the city. The structure of the axis is intended as a base for a future system of public transport, consisting of buses. This will make an impact on the high number of motorcycles and low private transport. The main routes of the traffic will shift toward Gračanica Lake with the existing axis passing through the center, with a direct link to Pristina Airport, and will also pass through the main station in Fushë Kosovë.[4]
Road casualties in Pristina[]
- The following table shows the number of fatal road casualties on the roads of Pristina, from 2008 to 2011.[5]
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fatal | 1,383 | 1,628 | 1,463 | 1,545 |
Airports[]
Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari is located about 15 km south-west of the city.[6] The number of passengers is steadily increasing every year, having handled over 2 million passengers for the first time in 2018. In 2012 it was described as the "most frequented airport of the region".[7] After a decision was made by the Central Department for Public Private Partnership, allowing for concession, the management of PIA has gone under the responsibility of Turkish-French consortium "Limak-Aeroport de Lyon" until 2031.[8]
History[]
The history of PIA begins in 1965, when it was opened only for domestic flights to and from Belgrade, the capital of Yugoslavia.[9] In 1985 the IT unit was equipped with modern technology in compliance with ICAO standards. In 1990, it began to handle its first international flights, notably to Germany and Switzerland. A new but short-lived era began for the airport after the Kosovo War, having been taken charge of by NATO and modified as a military airport through KFOR. The airport returned to its own control in 2000, with just 45 employees in total. Following damage during the war, it took 2 years and €50 million to help it start operating properly again. The airport was completely restructured and rebuilt in a 3 year period, from 2002 to 2005, which improved general quality for future passengers. As a result of different projects concerning security and safety, Pristina International Airport Adem Jashari was certified by the Icelandic Civil Aviation Authority in 2008.[10]
After concession[]
When the airport went under the control of the Turkish-French company "Limak-Aeroport de Lyon",[10] it was planned to be expanded to an area of 25,000m², as per investments which totaled €100 million and as agreed by the contract between the Kosovo Government and Limak-Aeroport de Lyon. The investments finished by 2014, by which it had been expanded to an area of 40,000m², at a cost of €130 million (15,000m² and €30 million more than was agreed by the contract), including a new passenger terminal. As a result, the airport now has the capacity to serve more than 3 million passengers per year, with parking space for about 1,700 cars. Following the €130 million investment and the completion of the terminal, the airport is now trying to create a public transport service to bring passengers to and from the capital.[11]
Prishtina Bus Station[]
Buses in Kosovo run frequently. Pristina's bus station provides transport to the rest of Kosovo and continental destinations. The main station is located 2km south-west of the city, near Bill Clinton Boulevard.
Long-distance buses[]
Start | End | Price (Euros) | Time | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Pristina | Peja | 4.00 | 07:30; every 20 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pristina | Gjakova | 4.00 | 07:30; every 20 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pristina | Prizren | 4.00 | 07:30; every 20 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pristina | Mitrovica | 1.00 | 07:30; every 20 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pristina | Gjilan | 2.00 | 07:30; every 20 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pristina | Skenderaj | 1.50 | 07:30; every 20 min | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pristina | Ferizaj | 2.00 | 07:30; every 20 min
}[12] International buses[]
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- Transport in Pristina