It was planned for it to be abolished, too, but already in the mid-1970s, after several types of research, city government changed the opinion and began developing the trolleybus network again.

[2] By the early 1980s, new neighborhoods planned to become part of the network were Konjarnik, Miljakovac, Učiteljsko Naselje, Medaković, Banjica, Kumodraž, and Zvezdara.

[2] After new city government took over in 2013, an idea of abolishing the trolleybus network was raised again, partially prompted by the experimental introduction of the electric buses.

The remaining lines should connect the hilly parts of the city: Konjarnik, Medaković, Vračar, Banjica and Kanarevo Brdo.

Regarding reasons, Vesić stated that the overhead lines look ugly in downtown and that citizens complained about the noise made by the trolleybuses.

After public protests, the 2013 idea was modified in 2015 and the city announced that the terminus from Studentski Trg will be relocated to the Dunavska Street, extending the trolleybus lines to Dorćol, as a temporary solution.

Due to the massive 2018-2019 reconstruction of the Republic Square, some lines were shortened only to the Slavija quare, some were replaced with buses, while some were abolished completely.

After continued citizens protests, city administration modified its idea of the large pedestrian zone in downtown and announced that all trolleybuses will be returned to their regular lines in September 2019, after the reconstruction of the square is finished.

[8][9] But it was also reported that the reduction (it also included several bus lines) is part of the ongoing plan by the city to transform the main traffic route into the pedestrian zone and because of the weight restrictions due to the botched reconstruction of the Republic Square.

[10] Since 2016, both abolition of the trolleybuses and replacement with the electric buses, and purchase of new, modern vehicles which does not require complicated grid, were announced.

[17] In February 2022 city announced that the process of acquiring 80 new vehicles began, and that plan is to purchase 20 trolleybuses per year in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

[19] As the city authorities continued with their already heavily criticized project of removing the traffic completely from downtown and conducting it into the neighborhood of Dorćol, they began the construction of the grid.

They are opposing the project which will reduce the sidewalks and number of parking spots, cut the trees and induce further traffic jams.

[20][21][22][23][24][25] In March 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a state of emergency was declared in Serbia, which included social distancing, partial curfew and ban on public gathering.

City responded that now, when there is no traffic, it is ideal time to work and that they do everything as agreed with the citizens who are now legally prevented to organize protests and blockades due to the state of emergency.

Police refused to intervene so the situation culminated in late April when citizens gathered in the streets, breaking the curfew and halting the works.

Police then appeared with black Marias but an ad hoc agreement was reached by which residents returned to their homes, and the works were stopped.

In the early 1941, before World War II began in Yugoslavia, the bus Line 28 was established, which connected City Hospital to Theatre Square in downtown Belgrade, via Hadžipopovac and Profesorska Kolonija.

The buses were replaced by trolleybuses in 1983, but neither the number nor the route changed (modern street names): Dimitrija Tucovića-Cvijićeva-Jaše Prodanovića-Takovska-Svetogorska-Makedonska-Republic Square-Vasina-Studentski Trg.

[29] The changes in 2019, especially the shut down of the line 28 was described as the "complete miss" and caused public protests and gatherings, and street and works blockades.

Authorities said that everything is covered with changing buses on other lines, but it turned out that for some, previously direct routes, it takes an extra hour for the commuters.

[36] Previously they completely ignored the protesters, not answering to any petition or question, refusing to disclose the study on which they based the abolishment of the line, even when they had to do it when the Law on Free Access to Information was invoked by the activists.

[37] After several sessions city remained insistent on enforcing pedestrian zone in the entire downtown and refusing to re-establish the line.