Montenegro’s Ministry of Public Works has appointed a local engineering firm to undertake the design and construction of the Lovćen–Cetinje cable car, a significant tourism infrastructure initiative estimated at €59.2 million. The contract has been awarded to XEnergy, previously known as Novi Volvox, which submitted the most competitive bid during the public procurement process.
The project entails creating comprehensive technical documentation and constructing an approximately 11-kilometre cable car line that will connect the Lovćen plateau with the historic city of Cetinje. This development represents the second phase of a larger gondola system aimed at linking the Boka Kotorska coast with both the Lovćen mountain region and Cetinje.
The contractor selected for this project possesses relevant experience, having collaborated with Italian ropeway manufacturer Leitner on the Kotor–Lovćen cable car, which commenced operations in 2023 under a 30-year concession agreement.
XEnergy was the sole bidder in this tender. The execution of the project will involve multiple subcontractors, including firms from Montenegro and Serbia such as Briv Construction, Geonex, Studio Grad, Planplus, Geo Max Group, GP Team, Liming Projekt, ING Invest, and the Belgrade-based engineering company Koto.
The tender for this project was launched in November, with bids evaluated after their opening on December 31. The initiative is being executed under a “design and build” framework, where the contractor is responsible for both finalizing project documentation and conducting construction activities.
As per the project specifications, the cable car system will feature stations and supporting infrastructure capable of accommodating between 100 and 800 passengers per hour. Additionally, the contractor will oversee the design and construction of access roads, electrical supply connections, and other necessary infrastructure for operational functionality.
The Lovćen–Cetinje cable car will include a mid-station at Ivanova Korita, a notable recreational area within Lovćen National Park. Upon completion, this cable car line is set to be part of a broader tourist corridor linking Kotor, Lovćen, and Cetinje, facilitating gondola transport for visitors from the Adriatic coast to the mountain plateau and historic royal capital.
<pPrevious planning documents have outlined that the entire gondola system will consist of several segments with multiple terminals along its route. These terminals include Dub (near Kotor), Kuk on Lovćen, Ivanova Korita, and Cetinje, creating an overall transport corridor of approximately 15 kilometres upon finalization of all phases.
Local officials have indicated that the new Lovćen–Cetinje section may be completed and operational within the next year, contingent on construction progress and permitting processes. This project is anticipated to significantly enhance tourism traffic between Montenegro’s coastal areas and its historical inland sites.
In addition to serving as a transport link, the cable car aims to be a prominent tourist attraction. The scenic gondola routes across the Lovćen mountain massif are expected to provide views over Boka Kotorska bay and the Adriatic coast—a landscape already appealing to international tourists visiting Montenegro. The extension toward Cetinje is projected to further unify mountain tourism with cultural heritage sites and coastal tourism into one cohesive visitor experience.
This investment aligns with a broader strategy to diversify Montenegro’s tourism infrastructure while increasing economic benefits from visitor traffic moving from coastal regions to inland areas such as Lovćen and Cetinje. By enhancing accessibility and establishing a new panoramic transport route across the mountainous terrain, this project seeks to boost tourism expenditure while reinforcing connections between some of Montenegro’s key cultural and natural landmarks.
