The City of Athens has called for stronger safety measures and full compensation for residents after underground excavation works for Metro Line 4 caused cracks in dozens of homes in the Kypseli district.
Following a meeting between Athens Mayor Haris Doukas and executives of the company overseeing the metro project, the municipality reaffirmed its support for the new metro line but stressed that construction must proceed only under conditions that guarantee public safety.
Three key demands
According to the mayor, around 200 homes—affecting approximately 200 families—have been impacted by the tunnelling works.
The municipality presented three main requests to the project operator:
- Written guarantees confirming the structural safety of all affected buildings.
- Independent verification of those assessments by a public scientific body.
- Full compensation and repair of any damage, as provided by law.
Doukas said the city supports the completion of Metro Line 4 but insisted that the project must continue only if all legal safety requirements are met.
Tunnelling work on hold
Excavation in the affected area has been suspended while experts assess the situation.
The mayor said the neighborhood’s complex geological conditions were known before construction began, prompting the installation of around 3,000 monitoring sensors on and around the tunnel boring machine. He added that excavation has already been halted twice because of technical concerns and remains paused.
According to city officials, the project operator has appointed specialists from Greece and abroad to determine how tunnelling can safely resume. Their findings are expected within the next two weeks.
Calls for independent inspections
Doukas acknowledged that written structural safety certificates have already been issued for some buildings following inspections requested by residents. However, he said the municipality is seeking written certification for every affected property, along with a separate assessment by an independent public body to reassure residents that their homes are safe.
Once the experts’ report is completed, the mayor is expected to meet again with the project operator and residents’ representatives to discuss the next steps.
The parties also agreed that the metro company will appoint a dedicated contact person to communicate directly with affected residents and help address their concerns as the project moves forward.
