Karamanlis: “On Monday the metro will reach Piraeus”

The delivery to the passenger public of the last three stations of the extension of the Metro to Piraeus next Monday was announced by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlis, in an interview with ERT1.

“On Monday we will also have a Metro in Piraeus”, emphasized Mr. Karamanlis and reminded that the three stations of Agia Varvara, Korydallos and Nikaia had already been put into operation and now the main stations of the port and the city of Piraeus will also be opened, in center of Piraeus, in Maniatika and the Municipal Theater.

“We are doing what should have been done many years ago. We connect the port with the airport. Imagine that we are a country that wants to have a tourist product and a tourist would come, land in Eleftherios Venizelos to go and take the ferry to one of the wonderful Greek islands, it was very difficult,” he noted. “We don’t do openings with tarpaulins. As soon as we go to inaugurate the Metro to Piraeus, it will open to the public on the same day”, he emphasized.

Regarding traffic, Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that in Athens the traffic problem is not as severe as in other European cities, but the small margin that exists is closing dangerously. This is why it is necessary for the so-called Attica projects to proceed – and they are already proceeding – such as the extension of Kymi Avenue, because otherwise – especially with the large project in Elliniko – soon Attica will “block”. But also to continue strengthening the means of fixed orbit.

He also mentioned the projects for Line 4 of the Athens Metro. When asked, specifically about the projects in Exarchia and Kolonaki, he pointed out that for the first time there is beautification of the construction sites, so that the feeling of a construction site with sheet metal is not given. He admitted, however, that when a major infrastructure project is carried out there will be a disturbance in the city.

Specifically, with regard to Kolonaki Square, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport stated that in approximately 15 days, certain interventions are expected to be completed. Regarding the Metro works in Exarchia, he estimated that the disturbance does not come from the residents, but from a group of “acquaintances-strangers”, who consider that the square belongs to them and every time something goes to be done they throw molotov cocktails and stones . But he pointed out that the project has not been delayed and reminded: Previously the residents of Agia Paraskevi had reacted to the station in the square and now – to put it popularly – they are banging their heads against the wall”.

Thessaloniki Metro

Asked why the Government did not choose to deliver the Thessaloniki Metro without the Venizelos station in order to proceed more quickly, the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport explained that it would be a “stump” Metro and emphasized: “We told the people of Thessaloniki the truth. That this project was stuck and we finally found the solution. And they have realized that the project is on its final stretch.”

Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that in Thessaloniki test routes are being carried out today on nine of the 12 kilometers of the Metro Line and commented: “Did you see me or any government official getting on a train and taking a ride? This mockery that existed in the past with the opening with tarpaulins, had set us back many years.” And he concluded: “We have set a timetable, we have said that the Thessaloniki Metro will be ready at the end of 2023, and we will be judged by that.”

He stated that the Government used the SYRIZA law for the transport project contract with KTEL. With this law, brought by SYRIZA when the nationalization of OASTH failed, the provision of 20% of the transport project in Athens and 40% in Thessaloniki to KTEL proceeded. He also emphasized that this was done “without offending the public character of urban transport”, concluding that the solution will be given with the Court of Auditors.

In view of the winter and given the climate change that also brings extreme weather phenomena, Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that ELAS decides to stop traffic when necessary, but drivers should either have chains and know how to wear them or to have winter tires, as they already do in many areas of Northern Greece, for example in his constituency, in Serres.

“Citizens want solutions”

On the occasion of yesterday’s 48th anniversary of the founding of New Democracy, Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that New Democracy is today the only constant in the political system. “At the end of the four years, the Greeks will be asked to decide whether they want to give a clear mandate of self-reliance to the New Democracy or enter into a process of cooperation governments,” he said. “What Kyriakos Mitsotakis and New Democracy support is that in order for the country to move forward with steady steps, a stable Government is needed,” he continued and added: “The Greek people will decide tomorrow if they want to go with Tsipras-Varoufakis or if he wants to go with Mitsotakis”.

When asked about possible collaborations, Mr. Karamanlis emphasized that this is a hypothetical question and estimated that New Democracy can achieve the goal of self-reliance, as shown by the data of all polls.

In particular, regarding the possibility of New Democracy’s cooperation with Mr. Velopoulos, Mr. Karamanlis replied: “Right now, what matters to the citizens is not whether A and B will govern tomorrow morning. What matters is what they want the citizen, who has seen his life change in the last ten years, who has gone through an economic crisis, through memorandums, through a pandemic, through an energy solution, are solutions”.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport also stated that “New Democracy today is truly a united fist” and regarding the interventions of former Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, he emphasized: “Kostas Karamanlis was the leader of this faction for almost 13 years and prime minister for six years. And he is a man who, in essence, has not created the slightest problem in New Democracy. I read all his interventions as interventions aimed at the unity of the party. And what did he say about the surveillance? He said what we all say, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis was the first: Everything in the light”.

RES-EMP

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