“THEN Thessaloniki at the end of 2023 it will have a metro,” said the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for infrastructure, George Karagiannishowever, he stressed that a general investment plan of 10 billion euros is currently being implemented in Northern Greece.

Regarding the metro, Mr. Karagiannis stressed that its completion at the end of 2023 “is not wishful thinking like some who operated the metro 3.5 years ago, without Venizelos and Agia Sophia stations, without rails, without trains and the Operator”. .

“Now we have received all 18 wires and the corresponding tests are being carried out at the Depo-Fountain site. Construction began a few weeks ago in the central part of Venizelos station. The area has already been transferred to the ownership and redevelopment of a wider area has begun, ”he added in an interview with the Macedonia tis Kyriakis newspaper.

“It is clear that our planning is being implemented and the schedule is being followed, and that finally the people of Thessaloniki will not only have a metro, but also one of the most modern metros in Europe,” he continued.

Planning for the expansion of the Thessaloniki Metro

Speaking about the expansion of the Thessaloniki metro, Mr. Karagiannis said that “after many years, a metro development study is being prepared, which, in essence, is a general transport study of the city, as well as a “compass” of the final options. for subway extensions.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure noted that “we will have the first usable results of the study at the end of the year” and explained that “this study will allow both of us to find funding for expansion in the EU. and EITEP, as well as drafting a transport model for the city of Thessaloniki.”

Specifically for the expansion in Kalamaria, he stressed that the government perceived him “as an orphan of all electromechanical systems.” Today, “starts its direct implementation. To this end, a contract will be immediately signed for 15 additional automatic wires, which are necessary for the operation of both the main project and Kalamaria, he stressed.

With regard to the expansion to the west, the preliminary tender for the execution of works is immediately sent for pre-contractual control to the Accounts Chamber, and the signing of the contract will follow in the next period. According to Mr. Karagiannis, “research is also underway to extend the metro to the airport.”

FlyOver contracting by autumn

Regarding FlyOver, Mr. Karagiannis emphasized that “the contract with the contractor will be signed in the fall and work will start in 2022.”

Describing the benefits of the project, he noted that “The Thessaloniki New Eastern Ring Road will be a new modern airway that will provide the ultimate solution to Thessaloniki’s traffic problem by doubling the capacity to receive the traffic load from 5,000 vehicles today to 10,000 per hour in each direction, making trips are much faster, more economical and safer.”

General plan of 10 billion euros in Northern Greece

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure said that “a project worth 10 billion euros is being implemented today in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece.” “An investment of 10 billion euros from public and private funds in new infrastructure, research and technology, new hospitals, renovations and new modern sports facilities,” he stressed.

He especially noted PPP projects, which, according to him, “in addition to an additional financial instrument and a change in strategy in terms of implementing large projects, underlie our policy.”

In Northern Greece, most of the package of railway projects

Regarding railway projects, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure noted that “in early 2023, we will have a temporary contractor for the railway connection of the 6th pier and the suburban railway in Western Thessaloniki with the aim of transforming the port into a cargo transport.” and logistics center in Northern Greece. At the same time, the project to modernize the Thessaloniki-Idomeni railway line has already started, as well as the second stage of the competitive dialogue on the Thessaloniki-Toxotes and Alexandroupoli-Ormenio sections.”

More than 200 million euros in Northern Greece for road safety

Mr. Karagiannis also pointed to the importance the government attaches to road safety issues, which are initially linked to major new road projects and later to maintaining and improving the operation and safety of the existing road network.

He referred to the Road Safety Intervention Program, which “will start operating throughout Greece from the very next period, with a total budget of 750 million euros, of which more than 200 million will be directed to Northern Greece.”