Greece’s Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos has rejected reports that work on Athens Metro Line 4 in the Kypseli neighborhood will not resume until after the country’s next elections, saying the claim has “no basis.”
Tachiaos said no firm timetable can yet be given because studies are still underway, but stressed that the goal is to restart work “as soon as possible,” with the safety of residents and buildings as the top priority.
The disputed section of Line 4 has been at a standstill while authorities assess the condition of buildings in the area and the safety measures required before tunneling can resume.
Restart also needed for technical reasons
Speaking to MEGANEWS 104.6, Tachiaos said the prolonged shutdown of the tunnel-boring machine is itself creating technical difficulties.
“It is urgent to start the tunnel-boring machine for technical reasons as well,” he said, explaining that its cutting equipment cannot remain stationary indefinitely because the machine’s cutting head could harden, making a restart “very difficult.”
He said the state, the Greek Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport’s construction entity Elliniko Metro and the contractor all have a shared interest in restarting the work.
However, Tachiaos emphasized that safety comes first.
“Primarily, there is the issue of the safety of residents and their properties. It is the first priority,” he said.
Building repairs can begin before tunneling resumes
Tachiaos also distinguished between different groups of buildings affected by the project, saying restoration work does not necessarily have to wait for the tunnel-boring machine to restart.
For buildings located above the section of tunnel that has already been constructed, where ground subsidence is no longer being observed, repairs can and should begin once the relevant studies are completed. The work is the responsibility of the contractor consortium and is not affected by the operation of the tunnel-boring machine.
A second group consists of buildings above the location where the machine is currently positioned and which remain within its zone of influence. A vulnerability assessment is being prepared for these buildings, with the necessary safety measures to be taken before tunneling resumes to prevent further problems.
A third issue concerns the continuation of excavation along the Line 4 route without causing problems for buildings further ahead.
35 buildings inspected
Tachiaos said inspections have been carried out on 35 buildings within the area examined. Of those, 14 were deemed to require an expert assessment by the Technical Chamber of Greece, the country’s professional body for engineers.
“Thirty-five buildings do not have a problem,” Tachiaos said, adding that other figures being circulated were not supported by evidence.
He also said engineers had determined that there was no reason to evacuate any of the buildings inspected.
Most of the buildings are located above sections of tunnel that have already been constructed, meaning they are above stabilized ground, according to the deputy minister.
Tachiaos acknowledged residents’ concerns over the situation.
“The concerns of the residents are absolutely understandable. Nobody wants to have a house with cracks,” he said.
