Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has backed residents of Kypseli who say their homes have been damaged by construction of Metro Line 4, calling for transparency, expert assessments and the restoration of affected properties.
Doukas spoke Tuesday, Aug. 25, at a press conference organized by Kypseli residents about damage caused by the construction works. He stressed that the city supports the Metro project but said it must proceed safely.
“We want the Metro,” Doukas said, emphasizing the importance of expanding Athens’ network and reducing the city’s dependence on cars.
He acknowledged that major underground infrastructure projects are complex, but said such projects can be carried out safely with the involvement of specialized experts.
Cracks appearing in apartment buildings in Kypseli, in the area surrounding the construction site for the extension of Metro Line 4. Thursday, July 16, 2026. (DANAI DAVLOPOULOU / EUROKINISSI)
Subsidence concerns halt tunneling
The mayor said the immediate concern in Kypseli is subsidence affecting several buildings.
“Today, there is a serious problem. The problem concerns subsidence. There are differential settlements in several buildings, and for this reason the tunnel boring machine has stopped in the Kypseli area since May,” he said.
Residents quickly organized and contacted the municipality. According to Doukas, the city subsequently met with representatives of the residents and with Elliniko Metro, the state-owned company overseeing the project.
On July 29, the municipality decided to support the residents with independent experts selected by the residents themselves, as well as legal counsel.
Doukas said Athens municipal services took the necessary steps to cover the cost of the experts, despite the high cost involved.
Cracks appearing in apartment buildings in Kypseli, in the area surrounding the construction site for the extension of Metro Line 4. Thursday, July 16, 2026. (DANAI DAVLOPOULOU / EUROKINISSI)
“We want residents to feel confident and safe that there will be experts they have already selected to examine how the project can proceed, what is happening with the restoration work and how those works can move forward,” he said.
Residents seek access to project data
The municipality also formally asked the government and Elliniko Metro to provide access to the studies and data needed for an independent assessment by the specialists selected by the residents.
It also asked Elliniko Metro to immediately restore damage to all affected properties and called for structural safety inspections where necessary by the Technical Chamber of Greece, the country’s professional body for engineers.
The municipality specifically requested the full expert assessment and all related documents. Elliniko Metro has commissioned a study by two experts, which is currently being reviewed by a third evaluator. The company has committed to presenting the final findings to the municipality and residents in September.
Cracks appearing in apartment buildings in Kypseli, in the area surrounding the construction site for the extension of Metro Line 4. Thursday, July 16, 2026. (DANAI DAVLOPOULOU / EUROKINISSI)
The city also requested the project’s log for the affected section of Kypseli covering January through June 2026, along with all structural and geotechnical monitoring data in digital format.
The data is intended to show where subsidence and displacement have occurred and provide the residents’ experts with the information needed to assess how the project can proceed.
The municipality also requested the relevant project studies.
Elliniko Metro provides requested data
Doukas said Elliniko Metro sent some of the requested information and data on Monday. The material will now be evaluated by the specialists representing the residents.
The mayor said the goal is to ensure that the Metro works and restoration efforts move forward with “reliability, transparency, accountability and responsibility,” while restoring residents’ sense of safety.
He reiterated that Athens wants Line 4 to proceed, arguing that expanding the city’s Metro network would allow residents to rely less on cars and make it easier to reach different parts of the city by walking and using public transportation.
“We want the Metro, but with safety,” Doukas said.
