The Standing Committee for Production and Trade of Parliament was informed today by Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Nikos Tahaios, on the content of the contracts to be signed by They were caused by the natural disaster “Daniel” and “Elias” in September 2023.

Mr Dimas stressed that these are total interventions of € 1.35 billion, an extremely high amount, which testifies to the wide range of disasters from the natural disaster and emergency that arose in the national economy, in order to find resources to repair public infrastructure damage.

The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport stressed: “These are major projects as, by their completion, road and rail traffic will be smoothed in all sections of the rail and road network that are now damaged today, taking a significant step towards moving citizens.”

Following are the key points of the placement of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas:

Projects on the road and rail network of the Regions of Thessaly and Central Greece that we bring to the Commission today will restore the extensive damage caused to the infrastructure by the “Daniel” and “Elias” natural disasters in September 2023.

These are total interventions of € 1.35 billion. An extremely high amount, which testifies to the wide range of disasters caused by the natural disaster and emergency that arose in the national economy, in order to find resources to repair public infrastructure damage.

In order to be able to implement these projects, funding of EUR 600 million was secured by the recovery and resilience fund, while the remaining EUR 735 million will be raised from national resources.

These are major projects as, by completing them, the road and rail traffic will be smoothed in all sections of the rail and road network that are now damaged today, taking a significant step in moving citizens with increased safety and seamless transport.

A. Road Works

The extreme weather events of September 2023 caused extensive damage to the road network in six (6) PU: Magnesia, Karditsa, Trikala, Fthiotida, Larissa and Evia.

Upon completion of the projects, the entire regional road network will be rendered to 26 Municipalities.

These projects will be implemented in the context of four (4) contractors:

  • Ultimate to infrastructure damage as a result of the intense weather “Daniel” and “Elias” municipalities: Zagora – Mouresi, South Pelion, Volos and Riga Feraiou.
  • Ultimately infrastructure damage projects as a result of intense weather “Daniel” and “Elias” municipalities: Argithea, Lake Plastira, Meteora and Gate.
  • Emergency infrastructure restoration projects as a result of the intense weather “Daniel” and “Elias” municipalities: Tempi, Tyrnavos, Elassona, Agia, Larissa, Farkadona, Killer, Palamas, Mouzaki, Trikkai and Karditsa.
  • Emergency projects to restore infrastructure as a result of the intense weather “Daniel” and “Elias” municipalities: Istiea – Edipsos, Mantoudiou – Lake – Agia Anna, Domokos, Lamia, Almyros, Farsala and Sofades.

The object of the above contractors relates to all the projects required to repair the damage, damage and other failures caused by 1,007 points of the road network, from the severe weather “Daniel” and “Elias”. The work is limited to the necessary damage to road infrastructure and their reinstatement to their former functional status. It is noted that they do not include work to complete or extend them, with the exception of absolutely necessary accompanying projects.

In particular, the interventions to be carried out relate to the restoration of roads, bridges, water and slopes and other damage technical works.

These projects are budget of € 899.7 million. The contractual deadline for the contracts in question is 48 months from the date of its signature.

B. Railway works

Regarding the Domokos – Kranona Department of the Athens – Thessaloniki Railway, permanent and more durable interventions are being launched due to these natural disasters.

Upon completion of the projects, the whole of the restored rail network will be rendered to the traffic.

This beam includes 4 contractors:

  • The restoration of the Athens – Thessaloniki double railway line, from the exit of the SS. Domokou until the entrance of the SS Krannon.

Work includes the restoration of the infrastructure and the line of the line, the stabilization of slopes, minerals and houses, as well as the strengthening of the network’s strength against future extreme weather.

  • The restoration of the Palaiofarsalos – Kalambaka Railway Line.

Work includes the construction of the required projects to restore and improve the hydraulic side of the line, so that the line is securely and seamless and acquire these sections, resilience to the weather that regularly affects the area.

  • The restoration of the Larissa – Volos Railway Monastery in the sections: i) Exit SS Larissa – SS Quarry ii) SS Quarry – SS entrance Volos iii) Two positions in the SS Volos.

Work on these sections include, rail and metal bridges, shielding of the rail infrastructure and allowance in sections of the line that show increased vulnerability to flood phenomena as well as concomitant hydraulic work.

  • The restoration of signaling systems, ETCS L1, telecommunication and electricity in the part of the double rail line from the SS. Palaiofarsalos to SS Krannon.

The restoration of the systems in the destroyed section will allow the signaling, telecommunications and ETCS to be re -operated. This will increase traffic safety and allow double -line traffic. The capacity of the Athens – Thessaloniki line will also increase.

These projects are budget of € 450.12 million. The duration of the contracts is set to 15 months from the date of their signature.

As part of his position, Deputy Minister of Transport, Konstantinos Kyranakis, said: “As we were committed, the projects are starting in April. We are already working on faithful observance of the timetable so that in 15 months from today the railway line has been restored and fully upgraded to Thessaly. “

Undersecretary of Infrastructure Nikos Tahaios stressed: “The rehabilitation projects of Thessaly do not concern temporary solutions or reinstatement of infrastructure destroyed in the previous situation, but definitive restorations.

Our goal is to create better and more durable infrastructure, including the demanding accompanying projects that will ensure their maximum durability and climate conditions.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, both under the previous political leadership and under the present, is in constant dialogue with local communities, as, as we have pledged, the prioritization of the projects results from the needs of societies. This is exactly what the works are expected to be visible when the projects begin.

Indeed, it took a longer period of time than the initial planning in order to contract the projects, but it was necessary to ensure resources of approximately € 1.5 billion. It should not be missed that the House had to vote on a modification of the state budget in order to ensure the funding of these projects.

It is noted that we remain in constant dialogue with the citizens of Thessaly for the projects that have been decided and will be executed. The accountability we mentioned is a word that characterizes the whole government and not something that is exhausted in today’s presence in the House. It will be constant and anyway, it has not stopped. We will continue to be present in the region throughout the execution of the projects. “