Visit of the Prime Minister KyriakosMitsotakistoKatehaki TBM Shaft worksite of the Athens Metro New Line 4, Section A: “AlsosVeikou – Goudi”
Today, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Katehaki TBM Shaft worksite of the Athens Metro New Line 4, Section A: “AlsosVeikou – Goudi”, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure George Karayiannis and the General Secretary of Infrastructure Maria-Elli Gerardi, as well as by the Chairman of ATTIKO METRO S.A. Nikolaos Tachiaos and the CEO and Vice Chairman of ATTIKO METRO S.A. Nikolaos Kouretas.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was advised on the progress of the Project and attended the name-giving ceremony of one of the two tunnel boring machines (TBM).
After the completion of the said ceremony during which the TBM was named “Athina”, the Prime Minister made the following statement:
“Today is a very important day for the infrastructures of our capital, since we are giving a name to the first out of the two TBMs, this huge moving “factory”, which will bore the base tunnel of Metro Line 4.
The Metro Line 4 is the greatest public project to be executed in our country in the years to come. By the end of the decade, Line 4 will be ready to be commissioned. As pointed out by the Minister, this Line will serve approximately 350,000 of our fellow citizens and will significantly ease the traffic burden in the capital of Athens.
This is another significant infrastructure project launched by the current government. May this new “Metromole” run at high speed and may all time schedules be adhered to, so that this major infrastructure project is delivered to the citizens of Athens within the set time schedules.
Once more, congratulations to all those who initiated this effort andlet us all meet soon at the name-giving ceremony of the next TBM. The next “Metromole” will be named “Niki” and will start from the other side of Line 4, i.e. from Alsos Veikou, very soon, so that both TBMs can meet in a few months from now at Evangelismos Station, depending on the speed they will be able to move”.
A lifetime project
The construction of the Metro Line 4 is a critical project for Athens that will have a beneficial impact on transportation, on the citizens’ quality of life, the environment and the greater economic activities.
The new Line, in the first phase of its development expected to be completed in 2029, will have 15 modern stations and a double-track 12,8 km long railway. This Line will serve residential zones in the densely populated central part of the urban web, as well as significant public services, allowing,, the connection of Alsos Veikou Station with the courts’ complex (Dikastiria Station) in 5’ and with the University Campus (Panepistimioupoli Station) in 14’. Trips will be executed by 20 new state-of-the-art trains.
Upon commissioning of Line 4, the daily ridership in the Metro network is estimated to increase by 340,000 passengers, while at the same time vehicle circulation in the capital is expected to be reduced by approximately 53,000 private vehicles, a fact that will lead to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 17,000 tons per year.
The amount to be invested for the development of the new Line will rise to 1,5 billion Euros, thus ensuringdevelopment benefits atvarious levels and the upgrading of the areas to be served by the expanded Metro network, while 5,000 new work positions will be created to meet the needs of the construction works.
According to the general planning, it is foreseen that upon completion of the first phase of the construction works, the works for the extension of Line 4 to Maroussi will commence, a project that will significantly improve the transportation connection between the north and the east suburbs of Athens.
