dered by the New Democracy government in
2009, but was later cancelled by the current gov-
ernment. The procedure has not yet gotten under-
way, but, according to the Ministry of
Infrastructure, the new international airport, bud-
geted at approximately €800 million, will be con-
structed under a concession agreement, while the
deadline for the submission of bids has been set
for March 1st, 2011. The project will be co-
financed by the European Investment Bank.
3
)
Metro and Tram.
The extensions of the Athens
Metro and Tram to Piraeus will move ahead,
since these are mature projects, whose funding
has already been secured. The extension of the
Athens Metro to Piraeus has an approved co-
financed budget of €534.8 million, while an addi-
tional credit facility of €400 million has been
approved by the EIB.
The delay in the tendering process for this project
is due to appeals and complaints made by the
bidders, and investigated by the competent
Community authorities. The relevant tender is
expected to be completed in June 2011, when the
contract for the project will also be signed.
The extension of the Tram to Piraeus has been
included for funding under the NSRF, with an
approved budget of €127.650 million. Construction
is expected to begin in December 2011.
Apart from the extension of existing lines, studies
are also carried out in regard to the new “4” or “V”
line, whose first section has been scheduled for
tendering in 2012, with the aim of covering the
most densely populated part of the capital, with a
length of 33 km and a total of 29 stations. It is
worth noting that Line 4 is designed to incorporate
major technical advances as compared to exist-
ing metro lines, such as fully automated train
operation, centralized station control, platform
doors, an automated ticket collection system, and
substations ensuring maximum energy-efficiency.
According to the plans of the Ministry of
Infrastructure, the new line will branch out to the
districts of Galatsi and Marousi, and will include a
central section connecting 8 new Metro stations:
Panepistimio,
Kolonaki,
Evangelismos,
Pagrati/Kesariani, Ano Ilissia, Zografou, Goudi,
Katechaki, with connection to existing lines 2 (at
Panepistimio Station) and 3 (at Evangelismos
and Katechaki stations). Recently, the
Evangelismos-Pagrati-Vyronas-Imitos-Ilioupoli
branch was added to this line, as well as the
Trade with Greece
105
In regard to institu-
tional matters, in
2011 the construc-
tion sector is in the
process of evaluating
and anticipating the
implementation of new
legislation for the ten-
dering and production
of public works.
”
“
