Prime Minister Mr. K. Karamanlis and the Minister of PEHODE, Mr. G. Souflias visited today the worksite of the Metro Extension to Elliniko in the area of Alimos and were informed about the progress of Attiko Metro Projects.
Mr. G. Souflias made the following statements:
“We are protecting the environment in practice – not just in theory. The Metro System constitutes the most important environment-friendly transport work in Attica Region, and this is the reason why we gave priority to its development.
The major Metro Projects front ever executed in Greece is currently under implementation. As of March 2004 until the present date, 26 new Metro Stations in Athens (13) and in Thessaloniki (13) are being constructed. The overall budget exceeds 2 billion Euro, making, thus, this project incomparable with any other project ever, while the size of the Metro network is doubled.
We have doubled the construction rate of Metro Projects in Greece. It is worth mentioning that while it took 15 years for the previous Governments to construct a Metro Project 17km long, we – in less than 6 years (2004-2010) – have managed to design, put to tender, and soon to complete only in Athens a 13-km long Metro system, constructing at the same time a 9.5-km long Metro system in Thessaloniki.
As of March 2004, Athens Metro is extended to include another 13 Stations.
KERAMIKOS, ELEONAS and EGALEO Stations were commissioned in May 2007.
The remaining 10 stations will be commissioned as follows:
a) NOMISMATOKOPIO Station, in August 2009,
b) HOLARGOS, AGHIA MARINA (HAIDARI), PERISTERI and ANTHOUPOLI Stations (4), by the end of 2009
c) ILIOUPOLI, ALIMOS, ARGYROUPOLI and ELLINIKO Stations (4) by spring 2010
d) AGHIA PARASKEVI Station by summer 2010.
Moreover, the Tender regarding the extension of the Metro System towards the Western Suburbs ending at Piraeus, to include one underground tunnel 7.6km long and 6 modern stations (AGHIA VARVARA, KORYDALLOS, NIKEA, MANIATIKA, PIRAEUS, DIMOTIKO THEATRO), budgeting at 515 million Euro, is currently in progress.
As regards the U Line (Line 4), starting from Galatsi and passing through the Court Complex, the city center, Panepistimio, Pangrati and Maroussi, to include a 20km long underground tunnel and 20 Stations, the designs are well-advanced and its tendering process could commence before the end of the year. Concerning the funding of the U Line, I will soon submit a relevant proposal before the Government Committee.
At the same time, the new Athens Regulatory Plan, to be soon submitted to the Greek Parliament for voting, includes a long-term scheme providing for a Metro network 220 km long, with 8 Lines and 200 Stations. This network will serve almost all citizens of Athens.
For YPEHODE, the Metro System is of outmost priority and the basis for us to plan the future of the Capital, a future more friendly to the citizens and the environment”.
Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, accompanied by the Minister of PEHODE Mr. G. Souflias, visited today the METRO Station under construction in the area of Alimos.
Prime Minister made the following statement:
“As already said, by next spring the Municipalities of Ilioupoli, Alimos, Argyroupoli and Elliniko shall have modern Metro Stations. It will take just 12 minutes by Metro to get from the city center to Alimos – to this very spot we are now standing – while today it takes over half an hour to travel this distance by car, during rush hours.
Right from the start, our Government gave priority to the greatest transport and environmental Project of the country.We extend the Metro System towards the southern and the western suburbs, to Peristeri, Anthoupoli and Aghia Marina (Haidari). We move forward towards Piraeus and less popular areas of our capital: Aghia Varvara, Korydallos and Nikea.
Modestly, by constructing significant projects, we change every-day life of the citizens. We are improving the quality of life in Attica Basin.
Some people may invest systematically in denial, annulment and in lies. These people cannot change. They still live in the past. But Greece is changing, Greece is progressing, Greece is moving forward. This is the reality. This is the truth of our work”.
