“The year of 2011 has been the most productive year for Thessaloniki Metro Project; however, the progress rate of the Base Project construction works shall be accelerated even more in 2012. At the same time, the tendering procedure for the Extension to Kalamaria shall be completed and the relevant construction works shall commence, while the finaldesigns for the first westbound extension towards Efkarpia and Papageorgiou Hospital shall be tendered”.
The above statements were made today by Mr. Yannis Mangriotis, Deputy Minister of YPIMEDI, during his visit at AGHIA SOFIA Metro Station, currently under construction, where archaeological excavations are in progress, and where Mr. Mangriotis was given the opportunity to exchange season’s greetings with the employees. Mr. George Konstantinidis, Thessaloniki Metro Projects Manager, and ATTIKO METRO S.A. executives were also present during the visit.
The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of the approval granted by the Court of Auditors to a supplementary contract concerning the execution of archaeological investigation works amounting to 41.8 million EURO, which will be brought for discussion before the concerned parliament committee in the next days.
Mr. Mangriotis made special reference to the excavation works and pointed out that the construction of the Metro Project constitutes a unique opportunity to reveal the historical continuity of Thessaloniki spanning a period of 23 centuries.
Finally, he was optimistic that the Metro Base Line will be commissioned in 2015 and added that the planning of a 33 km long Metro Network will soon be completed and shall also include the second westbound extension towards Ambelokipoi, Menemeni and Evosmos – Kordelio, the Panepistimio – Toumba -Charilaou Line and the extension to the Airport. The estimated cost of the network amounts to 3.5 billion EURO.
