Karamanlis: The first electric buses are expected at the beginning of 2023

For effort to deal with traffic and projects that will ensure that in the future Athens will not become an inaccessible city, as well as for strengthening of Public Transport in Athens and Thessaloniki and the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Costas Karamanlis, spoke about big projects that are being done all over the country, in an interview with ANT1.

As for the traffic, Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that in Greece the mistake that has been made is that the bodies involved are not one and two, but too many. «But the citizen is not interested in who is responsible for a traffic light, he is not interested in which ministry is responsible. He says: You are responsible, sit down and find solutions “noted and stressed that for the first time an important, key step is being taken: The Metropolitan Body, which means that “those of us who have the responsibility, we will sit at a table and decide “.

Mr. Karamanlis reminded that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has presented one 4 + 4 point plan for traffic. He pointed out that the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has limited responsibilities for this issue, but added that the Government is responsible for coordinating all bodies.

«It took us 28 years to start a new Metro line. I recently visited the construction site of Line 4 of the Metro and I was thinking about it“, He commented, emphasizing that in order to deal with the traffic, interventions must be made in the short and long term, but mainly in the long term.

He also mentioned that in Greek becomes one of the largest renovation projects and therefore specific road projects must also be carried outthe so-called projects of Attica: The extension of Kimi Avenue, the undergrounding of Ilioupolis and the extensions to Lavrio and Rafina, where there will be a railway connection.

Regarding the strengthening of Public TransportMr. Karamanlis reminded that the In 2019, there were 850 buses on the streets of Athens and today there are 1,350. «We are not left with folded arms“, He stressed, stating that with funding from the Recovery Fund, the tender for the supply of new vehicles has proceeded. He added that the first new electric buses are expected in early 2023. These competitions are difficult and labyrinthine, but at least this time we have funding. Very basic. That is, we have the money to buy the buses. Because in the past, do you know what they did? Many times they announced that they would get something without having the money. And then they just threw the ball of responsibilities left and right “, Mr. Karamanlis explained.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport also referred to effects of the war in Ukraine and the international construction crisis. «The problem we have with the big projects or with the orders we get for buses and subway systems has to do with the huge problems on production lines in Asia. Because, as we all see, pandemics, inflation and punctuality have created issues on production lines. This is an issue that we are addressing. “noted and added: “But here, where the Ministry and the Government were one step ahead, is that when all these price increases of raw materials started, we with ministerial decisions revised the prices to a very significant degree, so that we can give them a relief “.

In terms of Thessalonikiestimated that even the most skeptics admit that the situation on public transport has improved significantly, noting that the renewal of the fleet in the co-capital is even greater than in Athens. He also stated that: “The assessment and commitment we have given as a Government is for the Thessaloniki Metro to operate at the end of 2023 “ and added: “We had said April 2023, but some people ran to us, with “political coverage” in appeals for Venizelos station and the project went back months. But 90% of the project is completed. In the coming days you will see other squares, which were construction sites for over 12 years bothering the Thessalonians, to be delivered back to the city and this is an indication that the project is in its final stage. “.

Mr. Karamanlis also spoke about auction of railway projects worth 5 billion euros and the “White Arrow”, emphasizing that the coveted goal is to make the Athens-Thessaloniki line electrified and for the journey to take approximately 3: 30-3.40 hours. He also stressed that with the extension of the Athens Metro to Piraeus it will finally be connected for the first time the largest port in the country with the largest airport in the country. “All these moves that we have made, all these projects that we are unfolding, are projects that are not fragmentary. “These are moves of a plan to improve the infrastructure and to improve the daily life of the citizens”, concluded Mr. Karamanlis.

Asked about the scripts early elections and reshuffle, he replied: “These decisions are taken by one, not by many: The Prime Minister of the country. And the country’s prime minister has said he will hold elections at the end of four years. So I keep that. Of course, completing the 3rd year of government, we are actually entering a pre-election year. “As for the reshuffle, one also decides – and rightly so in my opinion.”

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