New Escalators Installed at Importanne
800,000-euro project finally nearing completion. Citizens comment: 'My goodness, is this really happening????'
800,000-euro project finally nearing completion. Citizens comment: 'My goodness, is this really happening????'
Zagreb residents who pass through Importanne Centar on a daily basis can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After nearly two years of agony, the escalators connecting King Tomislav Square with the underpass and the Main Railway Station have been installed and connected to the power supply. Photos of the completed escalators, published on Saturday by HRT Radio Sljeme, sparked a flood of comments on social media.
The public's reaction is best summed up by a comment that appeared beneath the post: "My goodness, is this really happening????". It's no wonder there's so much disbelief, given that commuters and passersby have been forced to use regular stairs since mid-2024.
The new escalators arrived in Zagreb in early June 2026, after a long journey from China. This involves a complete replacement of the worn-out system, with the total cost of the works amounting to around 800,000 euros. Although initial deadlines were more optimistic, there have been multiple delays. The reasons for the postponements lie in changes to technical documentation and issues with international delivery.
As early as February 2026, the City of Zagreb announced that the escalators should be operational by summer. Based on the latest information, that promise might finally be fulfilled.
The city administration confirmed a concrete timeline to Radio Sljeme. The final testing of the entire system and the start of the trial run for the outdoor escalators are expected by mid-August 2026. This means that residents could soon forget the arduous climb up the stairs with heavy bags or strollers.
The long wait has been particularly challenging for the elderly, people with reduced mobility, and parents with strollers. That's why the new photos of the completed escalators have been met with widespread approval and relief among Zagreb residents.
