Mayor Karácsony unveils ambitious 130-year vision and flood of Budapest projects

In a recent post, Budapest’s mayor Gergely Karácsony outlined a comprehensive development program that he says will define the city’s future for the next 130 years. He attributed past stagnation to confrontations with the Orbán-led national government, which he claims hampered the city’s ability to protect its assets. The new agenda seeks to capitalize on upcoming EU funding by launching a series of projects: construction of the Budai and Pest "fonódó" tram lines, renewal of the Nagykörút corridor, extension of the lower Pest riverbank, and the greening of Városháza Park.

Additional milestones include extending Metro line 3, completing the Diákváros residential complex, and starting the Rákosrendező redevelopment, all intended to reduce car traffic from the suburbs and support a city-wide parking reform. Karácsony acknowledged that residents may face frequent criticism and temporary disruptions, but he promised measures to mitigate inconvenience. He framed the initiatives as necessary debates about the city’s long-term interests rather than partisan battles.