The parallel Bucharest: how public services differ between the north and south

By Bucharest Team

Articles

One city, two speeds.

Bucharest isn’t one city — it’s two realities sharing the same name.
Between the polished north and the struggling south, there’s an invisible line that divides access, comfort, and attention.
Better roads, cleaner parks, and faster responses in the north. Cracked streets, slower services, and long delays in the south.

The difference isn’t just visual — it runs deep through infrastructure, budgets, and the way local administrations function.

Infrastructure – the north works, the south improvises

In the north — mainly Sectors 1 and 2 — infrastructure is relatively solid. Roads are regularly resurfaced, sidewalks repaired, and underground networks (water, gas, electricity) are better maintained.
Proximity to DN1, the northern ring road, and Otopeni Airport keeps the area connected and constantly funded.

In the south, the picture shifts. Side streets remain unpaved or patched repeatedly, drainage systems collapse after heavy rain, and public works often respond to crises rather than follow a plan.
For example, in 2024, Sector 4 City Hall reported over 3,200 minor water and sewage failures, while Sector 1 registered four times fewer, despite having a similar surface area.

The pattern is consistent: predictability in the north, patchwork management in the south.

Cleanliness and public maintenance – different standards, same city

In the north, public spaces look consistently cared for.
Neighborhoods like Herăstrău, Floreasca, and Aviatorilor benefit from permanent cleaning crews, long-term contracts with private operators, and stricter supervision.

In the south, you see the opposite: full bins, overgrown vegetation, and stray garbage around collection points.
The cleaning companies have the same legal obligations, but collection frequency is lower and fines for neglect are rare.

The explanation is partly social. The north has more civically active residents — people who file complaints, tag the mayor on Facebook, and make noise.
In the south, public pressure is weaker, and silence often means inaction.

Public investment – visibility versus real need

The sharpest divide appears in where and how money is spent.
The northern sectors attract European funding and large-scale infrastructure projects — road modernizations, bike lanes, and urban regeneration programs. Budgets average 2,500–3,000 RON per resident, nearly double compared to Sectors 4 and 5.

In the south, investments tend to be corrective: emergency repairs, patchwork fixes, temporary resurfacing.
In 2023, Sector 1 allocated over 420 million RON for road infrastructure; Sector 5, three times as densely populated, spent just 130 million.

The outcome is clear: the north grows; the south catches up.

Mobility and transport – two cities on the same map

Public transport makes the divide even more visible.
The metro serves only part of the southern area (Lines M2 and M3), while large neighborhoods like Berceni, Giurgiului, and Progresul rely almost entirely on buses and trams stuck in traffic.

The north, by contrast, has direct access to three metro lines, the airport, and alternative mobility options like car sharing, bicycles, and e-scooters.

A southern commuter spends, on average, 25 to 35 minutes more per day reaching the city center than someone from the north — for roughly the same distance.

Mobility here isn’t about how far you live, but which side of the city you’re on.

Residents’ perception – two realities that never meet

In the north, people complain about potholes, lighting, or the aesthetics of a new park.
In the south, they talk about flooding streets, blocked drains, broken sidewalks, and uncollected waste.
The difference isn’t only infrastructural — it’s emotional.

Many southern residents describe a feeling of neglect, of being “left out” by local authorities who show up mostly before elections.
That perception of exclusion fuels a cycle: investment follows visibility, not need; the quiet neighborhoods stay invisible.

Why the gap persists

Political pressure – the north has a louder, more connected electorate.
Urban structure – southern districts grew chaotically, without proper infrastructure planning, making repairs costlier.
Access to funding – northern administrations have more staff and expertise to write and win EU projects.
Budget differences – wealthier sectors collect more local taxes and reinvest them locally.

In a city managed by six separate local governments, the idea of “equal development” remains more theoretical than real.

What could change

Bridging the divide would require coordination, not isolated fixes.

Balanced budgeting, based on real needs, not political visibility.
Transparency: public investment maps updated monthly.
Local consultation, involving residents in setting priorities.
Pilot projects in the south, focused on green space, roads, and community infrastructure.

A functioning city grows evenly.
Right now, Bucharest moves at two speeds — and sometimes, in opposite directions.

In conclusion

Between Herăstrău and Rahova, between Floreasca and Ferentari, the distance isn’t just geographical.
It’s a gap in living standards, administrative care, and trust in public service.
The parallel Bucharest isn’t a metaphor — it’s a daily experience.
For some, the city feels European. For others, it still feels unfinished.