Athens municipal authorities have issued fines to a company conducting natural gas works in the Goudi area for failing to implement proper safety measures. The violations were uncovered during an inspection following concerns about the hazardous conditions posed to both vehicles and pedestrians.
The works took place near Agios Thomas Square, affecting several streets including Pontou, Mikras Asias, and Agiou Thomá. Municipal police found inadequate safety barriers and insufficient warning signs at the site, raising serious safety concerns.
The inspection was prompted after an on-site visit by Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and Infrastructure Deputy Mayor Andreas Grammatokogiannis, who together with the municipal police assessed the situation firsthand.
Mayor Doukas condemned the unsafe conditions, stating, “The endless construction sites on our streets harm the city’s image and inconvenience its residents. We identified serious problems with these natural gas projects due to a lack of proper safety measures. Immediate fines will be imposed on the company. Lawlessness on Athens’ streets ends now. Public utility works must proceed only if all regulations are strictly followed.”
The company received a 2,000-euro fine for failing to remove construction materials as required by the city’s cleanliness regulations. Additional fines totaling 4,500 euros were imposed for road safety violations.
Deputy Mayor Grammatokogiannis encouraged citizens to report unsafe construction sites or prolonged open excavations in their neighborhoods via the municipal online platform tomes.cityofathens.gr. Following complaints, city technicians and municipal police conduct swift inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards.
This action follows a recent criminal complaint filed by the Athens municipality regarding unauthorized natural gas works on Irakleidon Street in the historic Thiseio area. That case involved the absence of necessary permits, protective fencing, and signage to ensure safe movement for pedestrians and drivers.
