Hungarian section of Budapest–Belgrade railway line may be handed over in February
János Lázár began the hearing by stating that this might be his final meeting with the Economic Committee in his current role, as he believes the outcome of the 2026 elections will determine whether he can remain minister. Having expressed his gratitude for the cooperation over the past years, he moved on to discuss the most important transport issues.
He announced that
the Hungarian section of the railway line between Budapest and Belgrade is set to be finished and handed over on 20 February 2026.
The details of the Chinese loan agreement are still confidential and can only be disclosed with the agreement of all parties involved.
The minister also mentioned the comprehensive investigation into all public investment subcontracts. He has ordered a general investigation into main contractors working on public construction projects. In a Facebook post, he announced this decision on Monday after receiving several inquiries from subcontractors who, he claims, "have not received their rightful dues from main contractors for a long time".
The minister has previously taken strict measures against companies that have won public tenders. For example, they have been prohibited from operating with a profit margin higher than 10%, and the infamous 'Lex Strabag' law has been introduced. This law excludes companies that 'perform poorly' from public procurement, as well as those that fail to correct mistakes made during performance.
The minister has ordered a general investigation into all Hungarian public investments, with the aim of determining how and when subcontractors receive their payments.
"Subcontractors who have provided high-quality work at a fair price must be paid promptly, even if it means jumping the queue," he said.
We will hold all main contractors accountable and ensure that they pay their subcontractors as soon as possible. This must happen in the coming weeks.
During his hearing, Lázár added that the European Investment Bank had approved a loan application that could facilitate almost HUF 800 billion worth of railway development projects. He said that the goal is for Hungary to break out of the ranks of moderately developed countries, and that his ministry and the companies under its jurisdiction will play a significant role in achieving this.
Lázár highlighted the efficiency of the public procurement system between 2015 and 2025 as one of his own achievements, as well as the increased use of MÁV and Volán services since cheaper tickets were introduced. He emphasised that 75–80% of passengers can now use renovated restrooms, which he considers an important step forward in terms of quality.
At the same time, he mentioned that nearly half of the state roads are in a critical state of disrepair and require immediate attention. He referred to the renovation of the Budapest HÉV suburban railway lines as a long-term project, stating that the complete renovation of the Szentendre line would be the first to begin.
Regarding debts owed to the capital, he confirmed that these would be settled by the end of the year. He added that, in the event of a municipality becoming insolvent, the same procedure must be initiated as in other municipalities. He confirmed that he intends to review the contracts of both the main contractor and the subcontractors, as he considers it important to understand how state projects are accounted for.
Regarding the Pázmány Campus, he said that the Catholic Church was insisting on retaining the area because a large university district was being developed there, which could lead to a significant increase in housing prices due to investment. As for the renovation of railway stations, he said that funding would only be available if private companies were involved, since MÁV would not have sufficient funds for this over the next 20 years.
Cover photo: This image is subject to copyright via Getty Images
