Bakoyannis: The Municipality of Athens has taken all measures for the heat wave

In questions concerning the daily life of the Athenians, the measures for the heat wave, but also the small and large projects that are in progress in the city, such as new stadium of Panathinaikos in Votanikosanswered today the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannisspeaking on the show “Now, what’s happening” with Fai Mavragani, on OPEN TV.

Especially on the topic of the heat that is affecting Athens these days, Mr. Bakoyiannis referred to the seven air-conditioned spaces of the Municipality of Athens that remain open for those who need a cool “refuge” in the city. At the same time, he emphasized the importance of the four-digit number 1595, to which any Athenian citizen who needs help at home can call.

“It is the telephone number of the Municipality of Athens. An older person may feel a need, a difficulty or a discomfort. Let him call 1595, the “Help at Home” service. Someone will come, knock on his door to help him. Let’s not forget that the heat wave is also a matter of public health, and there are many of our fellow human beings, especially in Athens, who are alone, who are lonely. We don’t want that.”emphasized Mr. Bakoyiannis.

Referring, at the same time, to the risk of fire these days, he underlined that on the part of the Municipality of Athens, all the necessary measures have been taken. “Employees of the municipality are these days on the hills and green spaces. Also, the municipal police are there, our watermen are already on alert, the municipal police drone is flying over the city. Somehow last year, we spotted a fire in the Field of Mars very quickly. However, great care is needed there.

“Athens has lost precious time, we are running to catch up”

Answering a question about the timetable of the project at the University, Mr. Bakoyiannis emphasized that the work will begin intensively in the next few days and will be completed next Easter. Sometimes I hear the following: “But why so many projects together? At this moment, think about what is happening in Athens: A project in the Syntagma, a project in the University, another in the National Garden, Lycabettus, asphalt pavements on half the road network, sidewalks, squares in the neighborhoods. There are too many things going on in the city at the same time. It is the largest technical program in history, larger than the one that preceded the Olympic Games. My answer to this is that Athens had lost too much precious time and now we are running to catch up, setting a goal: Within one term despite the crises, despite the pandemic, despite what we are living, to achieve it.”

“The Lycabettus Theater will be open next summer”

The Mayor of Athens announced that the outdoor theater of Lycabettus, which has been closed since 2008, will be able to welcome the Athenian public again next summer. “I say this with a very big smile because it is a theatre, which we have missed. An entire generation, our children, have not known it. We are doing everything necessary and the work is progressing so that we can enjoy it and discover it again for the new generations”.

“Nothing will delay us – Panathinaikos stadium will be ready on time”

In 2026, the first match of Panathinaikos will be held in its new stadium, Costas Bakoyannis pointed out, referring to the issue of the double reconstruction. “We are talking about the best stadium in Greece. I’m not just saying this because I’m from Panathinaikos, I’m saying it because I’ve seen the study”he said, announcing that bulldozers will begin preliminary work in the fall. “Our timetable, as we have made it public, is for the stadium to be completed in 2026. At the moment I don’t see anything that will delay us. Apparently, it is not affected by anything. The money is secured, the studies are mature, the project will be auctioned immediately and we are moving forward. […] When the new stadium in Botaniko is completed, then we will demolish the stadium in Leoforos. This way we will acquire 11 acres of park, a new “lung” which – objectively – this densely built-up area of ​​Athens is in great need of..

“Prosopsi” is a program for all Athenians

Mr. Bakoyiannis referred to the new “Facade” program, with a budget of 1.5 million euros, which is already “running” by the Municipality of Athens and aims to aesthetically upgrade the facades of the old buildings in Athens. “The logic is that Athens needs a refresh. Our apartment buildings need painting. He had “run” a corresponding program with great success before the Olympic Games. So here we come, the Municipality of Athens, and give a financial incentive that covers up to 60% of the total cost. The works concern painting, but also a series of restorations on the facade of the apartment building. The process is very easy and the application is made online through the website www.prosopsi.gr. The good news is that we already have a very good response, with dozens of applications in a few weeks”.

When asked if all requests will be granted, the Mayor of Athens answered positively, pointing out: “We have consciously designed a program for everyone. It is for both apartment buildings and single-family houses and it is a very great opportunity because the money is paid immediately. It used to be that one had to submit a whole file, lots of papers. Today, he simply enters the site, and through the TEE registry he finds the engineer, who comes and does the study.”

Over 35,000 m2 of smudges on the walls were cleaned

Mr. Bakoyiannis emphasized the very important effort made for 2.5 years by the municipal authority to clean the walls of the city from smears, through the anti-graffiti process. “We have already cleaned over 35,000 square meters in various parts of the city. The difference is visible. And the impressive thing is that in most cases, this image is maintained even afterwards”. He also referred to the public mural program of the Municipality of Athens, emphasizing their importance especially in school buildings, which as he said “take on color and life”.

“The Constitution will be delivered in the next few days”

Finally, the Mayor of Athens gave the assurance that the works on the Syntagma will be completed within the next few days, while responding to the delay in completion, he said: “The truth is that the work was delayed and this happened because, firstly, we found ancient and secondly because it is not only an aesthetic project, it is also an infrastructure project. This was an opportunity to finally sort out the infrastructure of Syntagma Square. But I think it is a project that we will all enjoy. It is a project that is very natural and by that I mean that until recently when you left Ermou you fell into a “chasm” of cars. Now you will have the necessary public space with trees and pergola. It is a project that the city has been missing and which was planned before the Olympics, but for a number of reasons it was never completed. Now it’s finally happening.”

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