The Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Dimas, and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, responsible for Infrastructure, Nikos Tachiaos, visited the construction site of Metro Line 4 near GNA, where a tunnel is being excavated to accommodate the light maintenance facility for metro trains.

Following their inspection, the Infrastructure Ministry clarified:

• There are no safety concerns.
• No errors exist in the tunnel’s routing.
• No subsidence or shifts have been recorded, either at the road level or in nearby buildings.
• A 370-meter-long triple-track tunnel section is being constructed under Kanellopoulou Avenue (Katechaki) to support train maintenance operations.

The Ministry further stated that tunnel excavation is progressing according to the approved methodology and with conventional excavation methods.

The contractor company also issued a statement confirming that the project is being executed with full adherence to safety, quality, and efficiency standards.

A 186-meter auxiliary tunnel connecting the main metro tunnel with the depot under construction at the General Air Force Hospital is being built in line with approved studies. The excavation follows a phased approach due to the tunnel’s large cross-section.

Disagreements between the contractor and the Greek Metro S.A. concern only the sequencing of excavation work, not its location or safety. Any arising technical issues will be resolved per the project contract.

Infrastructure Minister Christos Dimas emphasized:
“Our experts assure us there are no safety concerns for workers, the project, or the surrounding infrastructure. Additionally, no routing errors exist—contrary to media reports. The auxiliary tunnel is included in the official construction plans and serves as a train depot, not part of the main railway line.”

Deputy Minister Nikos Tachiaos added:
“The tunnel under Katechaki is intended as a maintenance depot for Line 4 trains. It is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method, while another tunnel in the area is being excavated using a tunnel boring machine. No ‘rogue’ tunnel exists. Differences with the contractor solely concern construction methodology. Continuous monitoring confirms no movement in the road or adjacent buildings.”