Banja Luka electric public transport modernization

Banja Luka Mayor Draško Stanivuković announced plans to modernize the city’s transportation system through the acquisition of 40 electric buses and Chinese-made trackless electric trams utilizing the CRRC ART platform. The mayor suggested the city would be the first in Europe to implement this specific optical-guidance technology.

The announcement faced criticism from engineering experts and local officials regarding the lack of public procurement transparency, funding details, and the suitability of existing road infrastructure for such large vehicles. Concerns were also raised regarding the reliability of the autonomous functions, citing previous issues with similar platforms in Indonesia.

Subsequent reports clarified that electric buses being tested in Banja Luka are actually destined for Ljubljana and were ordered by private providers rather than the city itself. While the mayor stated that approximately one million marks have been allocated for testing and related infrastructure, local official Bogoljub Zeljković contested these claims, noting the absence of a specific budget for bus purchases and the lack of a municipal enterprise to manage such a fleet.