ATHENS — The construction contract for a new metro line in Athens was signed in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Misotakis and Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis at an event held at Alsos Veikou open theater on Tuesday evening.

Welcoming the signing between "Attiko Metro SA" and the "J&P Avax SA – Ghella SpA – Alstom Transport S.A" group of companies, the premier said, "I am happy that we will sign a contract for the largest public project that will take place in our country."

Budgeted at 1.6 billion euros, the construction of Athens metro Line 4 will "serve the most densely populated areas, will add significant value to properties, and will provide access to the Metro at emblematic areas."

Mitsotakis noted that when his government first took office the project "looked like an unsolvable puzzle," and it came close to cancelling the tender for its construction, but "we persisted, and construction works will begin in the summer."

The helpful cooperation of the relevant municipalities is essential, noted Mitsotakis, as the scale of the construction project "will cause considerable disturbance in Athens neighborhoods." But, he added, "with patience, any difficulties will be overcome, in order to see the first train of metro line 4 do its first run within schedule, in 8 years."

Construction of this new metro line begins at a time when the country is "turning a page as it leaves behind the coronavirus pandemic," he underlined, and as "we invest in development to create new jobs and improve the quality of life."

"The New Democracy government inherited a stalled project, with many complex problems," said Transport Minister Karamanlis, "but it had one target in mind: to unblock it, so that after 15 years it can start materializing."