“We have received all 18 wires and the relevant tests are underway in the Depot – Fountain section,” said the Minister of Infrastructure.
“Thessaloniki will have a Metro at the end of 2023” clarified the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for Infrastructure, Mr. George Karagiannis, in an interview with the newspaper “Macedonia tis Kyriakis” and the journalist Nikos Iliadis, while he emphasized that a comprehensive investment plan is currently being implemented in Northern Greece amounting to 10 billion euros.
Regarding the Metro, Mr. Karagiannis underlined that the delivery of the metro at the end of 2023 “it is not a wishful thinking, like some who would have operated the Metro, 3.5 years ago, without the Venizelos and Agia Sofia stations, without rails, without trains and Liturgy Carrier”.
“Now, we have received all 18 wires and the relevant tests are underway in the Depot – Fountain section. Construction started a few weeks ago on the central part of the Venizelos station. Spaces have already been handed over to the public and the redevelopment of the wider area has begun,” he added.
“It is clear that our planning is being implemented and the schedule is being followed and that, finally, the people of Thessaloniki will not only have a Metro, but they will also have one of the most modern Metros in Europe” he continued.
The planning for the extensions of the Thessaloniki Metro
Referring to extensions of the Thessaloniki Metro Mr. Karagiannis announced that “after many years, the Metro Development study is being prepared, which essentially constitutes the general transportation study of the city, thus also the “compass” for the final options for the metro extensions”.
The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure noted that, “we will have the first usable results of the study at the end of the year” and explained that “this study will allow us both to seek financing for the expansions from the EU and the EIB, as well as to draw up the model of transport in the city of Thessaloniki”.
Especially for the extension to Kalamariaunderlined that the government received it “orphan of all electromechanical systems”.
Today, “it is proceeding with its immediate implementation. To this end, the contract will be immediately signed for 15 additional automatic wires which are necessary for the operation of both the main project and for Kalamaria”.
Regarding the westward expansion, the preliminary work tender goes immediately for pre-contractual control at the Court of Audit and the signing of the contract will follow in the next period. According to Mr. Karagiannis, “studies are also being carried out for the extension of the metro to the airport”.
By autumn, the contracting of FlyOver
Regarding the FlyOver, Mr. Karagiannis emphasized that “the contract with the contractor will be signed in the fall and the works will start in 2022”.
Describing the benefits of the project, he noted that “the New Eastern Ring Road of Thessaloniki will be a new, state-of-the-art aerial highway, which will ensure a definitive solution to Thessaloniki’s traffic problem, by doubling the capacity to receive traffic loads from the 5,000 vehicles today, to 10,000 per hour in each direction, making travel much faster, more economical and safer.”
“A new Regional that will upgrade traffic in the city and together with the Metro will change the daily life of all the people of Thessaloniki” he added.
A total project of 10 billion euros is currently being implemented in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece
Asked to comment on the complaints of organizations that Central Macedonia is the “poor relative” in terms of the allocation of public or community resources, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure replied that “in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, a total project of 10 billion euros is currently being implemented ».
“Investments of 10 billion euros from public and private funds, for new infrastructure, for research and technology, for new hospitals, for renovations and new modern sports facilities,” he stressed.
He made special mention of the PPP projects which, as he said, “besides an additional financial tool and a change of strategy in terms of the implementation of large projects, which is at the core of our policy”.
“We have left behind the era of blueprints and tarpaulins and now have studies, tenders, contractors and construction sites.” Focusing on Northern Greece, Mr. Karagiannis said that “the majority of European money for large infrastructure projects will be directed to the region”.
“The program of the Ministry of Infrastructure exceeds 5 billion euros. The Northern E65 is one of the two road projects that will be financed entirely by the Recovery Fund which, as you know, connects Trikala with Egnatia, has a budget of 442 million euros and its construction has already begun. The two major railway projects, Thessaloniki – Toxotes and Alexandroupoli – Ormenio, projects with a budget of 2.8 billion euros, will also be financed by the structural funds,” he noted.
In Northern Greece, most of the railway project package
Regarding the railway projects, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, after underlining the importance given, noted that “at the beginning of 2023 we will have a temporary contractor for the railway connection of the 6th pier and the suburban railway in Western Thessaloniki with the aim of turning the port into a freight transport and logistics hub in Northern Greece. At the same time, the modernization project of the Thessaloniki – Idomeni railway line has already started, as has the second phase of the competitive dialogue for the sections Thessaloniki – Toxotes and Alexandroupoli – Ormenio”.
He added that “the last two projects will change the landscape of transport for people and goods, will upgrade the value of the ports of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Alexandroupolis and will connect Thrace with the Balkans and Black Sea ports. They will completely change the mix of movements in the whole of Northern Greece and will implement in practice the Eastern railway Egnatia”.
More than 200 million euros in Northern Greece for road safety
Mr. Karagiannis also pointed out the importance that the government gives to road safety issues which is initially linked to the new major road projects and from there on to the maintenance and upgrading of the level of operation and safety in the existing road network.
He referred to the Road Safety Improvement Intervention Program which “will start running throughout Greece from the very next period, with a total budget of 750 million euros, while more than 200 million of these will be directed to Northern Greece”.
In conclusion, he noted that “the bet of this government and the leadership of the Ministry of Infrastructure is that this money will take place. To make projects useful and functional. To change the image of everyday life and the competitiveness of the economy. And we will achieve this.”
Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.
