The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. Costas Karamanlis, reiterated his commitment for the delivery of the main line of the Thessaloniki Metro within 2023, within the framework of the Thessaloniki International Fair. From the Ministry’s pavillion, the minister, making statements, noted that despite the delays created by the appeals, “Our planning, however, has not changed at all. Our goal is to deliver the METRO in 2023” he said characteristically.
As a priority during this period, he set the beginning of the detachment and relocation of the antiquities at the Venizelos station. “We are asking to leave the division and disagreements behind us,” he stressed.
As for the relocation of the antiquities in Hagia Sophia, it has already begun, proving, as the Minister said, that this process can work.
“Let us all take a walk these days and let’s go and see what is happening in the Sintrivani district, what is happening in Dimokratias Avenue, what is happening in Hagia Sophia in the square.
Squares that were covered by sheet metal, are slowly being delivered back to the city. Therefore, we have have not changed the commitments. Despite the violent reaction and the war that is taking place and the delays that we have with the appeals, we are putting our heads down and the work is proceeding normally,” he said.
The new generation of great projects
Speaking about the preparation of the new generation of great projects, he stressed that “this year we have worked systematically for the maturity all the great necessary projects and we are in a happy position, we have told you several times. We have presented a plan of infrastructure projects worth 13 billion euros, of which 3.5 billion we have already contracted.”
According to Mr. Karamanlis, the 3.5 billion projects have already started. “We now have a lot of financial tools at our disposal and we are in full consultation with the European Commission and with all the Europeans who are helping us in a difficult time to find funding for these projects.”
The most buses in Thessaloniki since 2013
Regarding the transport sector, he spoke about doubling the number of buses circulating in Thessaloniki and spoke about the cooperation with the inter-city transport networks and the strengthening of the network through leasing. As he stressed, the 231 vehicles that were on the roads in 2019 have today become 440 buses and by September they will reach the number of 530 buses.
Thessaloniki is the protagonist in the Balkans and Eastern Europe
Referring to the works being carried out in the greater area of Thessaloniki, Mr. Karamanlis, announced the auction of the railway project concerning the new line Thessaloniki-Toxotes-Xanthi, as well as the suburban line in the western suburbs of the city.
“I think that even the most skeptical now realize that this government has really put Thessaloniki and the projects of Northern Greece at the forefront,” he said.
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