The Batajnica-based company “Starting”, the main subcontractor for the reconstruction of the Novi Sad Railway Station, whose canopy collapsed on November 1, killing 15 people, is falsely posing as a contractor for work on a Montenegrin highway, which could constitute a criminal offense.
While the company's website lists its participation in the "Bar - Boljare highway construction project" in 2017 and 2018 among its references, the Ministry of Transport and the state-owned company "Monteput" claim that the company is not among the contractors and subcontractors. They also point out that the company, which the media in Serbia has linked to the leaders of the Serbian Progressive Party, Aleksandar Vučić, no approval was issued for any work on the highway, meaning that there are no references for that work.
"Starting" did not respond to "Vijesti"'s questions to clarify its alleged participation in the highway construction project, which were sent to them last week.
They are not on the list.
"Starting" states in its references that in the "Bar-Boljare highway construction project" in Montenegro in 2017 and 2018, it was a partner of the company "AB Construct" from Podgorica, which they state was the contractor.
"Vijesti" therefore sent questions to the Ministry of Transport and "Monteput" - whether "Starting" from Belgrade or its eponymous daughter company in Montenegro, as well as "AB Construct", participated in the design or execution of any works on the Bar - Boljere highway, or the so far completed Podgorica - Mateševo section.
The joint response explained that consent was given for each subcontractor engaged in any work, that such consent was issued for 121 companies and that the companies "Starting" and "AB Construct" were not among them, that is, that they were neither contractors nor subcontractors to be able to use references.

“AB Construct” is mentioned in one document, which shows that the actual contractor borrowed drills from that company, and that this cannot be considered participation in the project.
"In accordance with the clauses of the Contract for the design and construction of the priority section Smokovac-Uvač-Mateševo, Bar - Boljare motorway, the Ministry, acting at the request of the Contractor when approving subcontractors for the preparation of project documentation or the execution of works on the construction of the motorway, previously obtained the opinion of the Investor's Representative/Project Manager (Monteputo doo), which was preceded by the opinion of the Project Supervisor (Ingerop&Geodata). Suppliers and lessors of materials and equipment, as well as providers of other services related to the Project and the Contract, are not considered subcontractors, and it was not necessary to obtain the Investor's consent for them. Having reviewed the issued consents for the engagement of subcontractors, of which there were 121 with dozens of amendments, we confirm that neither the 'Starting' company nor the 'AB Construct' company was issued a consent for subcontractors for the implementation of the Smokovac-Mateševo section construction project. Based on the available information, the company 'AB Construct' Podgorica was engaged by CRBC as a supplier for machine rental services and anchor drilling services, for which consent was not requested from the Investor, because there was no obligation for this," the Ministry of Transport and "Monteput" state.
A canopy weighing 23 tons more than allowed
According to the partially published documentation on the accident in Novi Sad, the company "Starting" was working on waterproofing, mosaics and a skylight on the disputed canopy. The report by an expert from the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad, hired by the Higher Prosecutor's Office, published in late December, stated that the canopy collapsed because it was 23 tons heavier than the permitted load.
"Starting" was the first subcontractor for the reconstruction of the Railway Station, and they were hired by the main contractor - the Chinese company "China Communication Construction Company".
According to the documentation published so far, the company "Starting" was paid a total of at least 5,1 million euros for the works through eight known annexes to the contract, out of a total of 15 million euros that the Chinese company received for the entire job.
The publication of all documentation on the controversial reconstruction of the Railway Station is the main demand of student groups from almost all faculties in Serbia, who have been protesting for almost three months...
Hiding documentation and links to the regime
In the first days after the accident, officials in Serbia, including President Aleksandar Vučić, claimed that no work had been done on the canopy itself, and then that “there was some coating” that allegedly did not affect its load-bearing capacity. Vučić also stated several times that all documentation had been published and that the students’ demands had been met, which turned out to be untrue.
Documentation on the work carried out at the Novi Sad Railway Station has been published three times so far, and the Faculty of Civil Engineering claims that some of the necessary documentation is still missing, and that the authenticity of some of the published documents cannot be determined.
The signatures on some of the documentation relating to the company "Starting" are also disputed, as they were allegedly signed by persons who were not authorized to do so.
In media research in Serbia, the company “Starting” is linked to the top of Vučić’s Serbian Progressive Party. It has a 70 percent stake in the company Ljiljana Tripkovic from Belgrade, and 30 percent Nikola Trivic, who is also the owner of the construction company "NIT gradnja".
However, Radar's research indicates that her representative in several proceedings was a law firm. Vojislav Nedić, who is a member of the SNS and the father of the Secretary General of the Government of Serbia Novak Nedić who is a member of the SNS presidency.
The Novi Sad Railway Station building has been officially opened twice, but its occupancy permit has still not been published. The first phase of reconstruction began in October 2021, and the station was officially opened in March 2022 during the election campaign. After that, work continued, and the station was officially opened for the second time on July 5 last year, four months before the tragedy...
The company "Starting" participates in a large number of public infrastructure construction projects in Serbia, as well as residential and commercial buildings in several locations, including Belgrade on the Water.
False reference a crime
A source from "Vijesti", a member of the Chamber of Engineers, points out that falsely stating references, with the aim of getting a job or attracting a client, is a criminal offense, like misrepresentation, fraud with the aim of obtaining profit, and forgery of official documentation.
"If 'Starting', when recruiting someone, attached a reference that they participated in a highway construction project in Montenegro and based on that got a job in Serbia or somewhere else, and they are not on the official list of contractors and subcontractors, a serious criminal offense has been committed. It is fraud and misrepresentation, if they have that as a reference listed on their website, because that is used to attract clients," he claims.
They say they built in Igalo and Đenovići
The company "Starting" also states in its references that it participated in the construction of a residential and commercial building in Igalo in Montenegro in 2012 for the company "Katunjanin", as well as in 2011 in the construction of residential buildings in Đenovići and Zelenica for individuals.
In 2015, "Vijesti" wrote that lawyer Vojislav Nedić built one of the most luxurious villas in Rijeka Reževića, ten meters from the sea.
Belgrade's "Starting" had a daughter company of the same name in Podgorica, which was founded in November 2020 and closed down in May last year. At the same address - Ulica Iva Andrića 43 in Zagorič, the company "AB Construct" Podgorica is registered, owned by Nikola Trivić, who owns 30 percent of Belgrade's "Starting" and is its director.
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