Repairs are well underway on the damaged section of the railway near Komadinovo Vrelo, close to Jablanica. Two months ago, a catastrophic landslide suspended train services on the Sarajevo–Mostar route. Turkish construction company Cengiz Insaat, which has undertaken the restoration project, expressed confidence in completing the work as quickly as possible to restore this vital connection for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s citizens.

The railway section was severed from the ground on 4 October, leaving part of the track suspended over the M-17 highway. The delay in initiating repair works caused public frustration, with estimated damages reaching millions of Bosnian marks. Amid the uncertainty, Cengiz Insaat offered to donate their resources and expertise to restore the damaged line.

Anadolu Agency visited the site near Donja Jablanica, where the reconstruction has been ongoing since Saturday. Heavy machinery, including excavators, bulldozers, pile drilling machines, cranes, trucks, and rollers, is already in place, and workers are making significant progress despite challenging conditions.

Salih Kerim Bozkan, a civil engineer and project manager for Cengiz Insaat, explained the scope of the work, which is currently focused on constructing a bridge to reconnect the railway line.

“The bridge will feature two side pillars and span 26 metres. We are preparing to construct these pillars, with the drilling machine starting operations for six piles per pillar. Once we complete the piles, we will proceed with the foundations and then the upper structure of the bridge,” said Bozkan.

Currently, 15 workers are on-site, with the workforce expected to increase to around 25 when concrete work begins. Bozkan highlighted the challenging preparatory phase, which included creating a stable platform for the 50-tonne pile-drilling machine.

“Given the proximity to the M-17 highway and the elevation, ensuring the machine's stability is critical. We've already completed the supporting wall on the Sarajevo side and are finishing the Mostar side. This should be ready within a few days,” Bozkan added.

While a specific completion date remains uncertain due to weather conditions, Bozkan emphasised the team’s determination to press on.
Cengiz Insaat has been actively assisting Bosnian authorities since the devastating floods, lending machinery and manpower for clean-up efforts in Donja Jablanica. Bozkan underlined the company’s commitment to supporting the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina during difficult times.

Alenko Topuz, a geodetic engineer with Cengiz Insaat, confirmed that the project is making progress according to plan despite its technical challenges.

“The most difficult part is preparing the platform for the pile-drilling machine. Once that is done, we’ll move on to the concrete works. Weather permitting, we hope to complete the project approximately within 40 days,” Topuz said.

The restoration of the Sarajevo–Mostar railway line will be a significant milestone for Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-establishing an essential transportation link and alleviating the economic losses caused by the disruption.