The issue of Vasilissis Olgas Avenue is heading toward open confrontation, as the Municipality of Athens responded to the joint announcement of the Ministries of Environment, Culture and Transport-Infrastructure, which stated that the recent decision of the municipal council for changes in the use of the road “does not produce legal effects.”

The municipality declares that it will not back down, even leaving insinuations about political motives in favor of former mayor Kostas Bakoyannis.

The confrontation is not new. The discussion over the character and functionality of V. Olgas has a history of almost two decades, since already in the 2000s the company “Unification of Archaeological Sites of Athens S.A.” had prepared a study which remained inactive. The Bakoyannis administration revived the plan, updated it, obtained the necessary approvals from the competent ministries and tendered the project in 2020. The study foresaw full pedestrianization, with the exception of one lane to serve public transport and local users toward the Zappeion.

The current municipal authority under Haris Doukas proceeded with a new traffic study, which modifies the use of the road, foreseeing mild traffic with access for all vehicles from Vasileos Konstantinou toward Syntagma and right toward Ardittou. According to the municipality, this regulation will reduce traffic burden on other routes by 20%, while being accompanied by additional interventions around the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

At the recent municipal council, Mr. Doukas defended the changes, noting that the Bakoyannis plan foresaw vehicles moving in tram and trolley lanes, even passing through a dirt road inside the Zappeion, something which—as he said—would amount to a “crime.” In contrast, he argued that the new study’s regulations follow “common sense.”

Kostas Bakoyannis reacted strongly, accusing his successor of “populism” and of making a “flip-flop,” saying that while he had previously ridiculed the project, today he is adopting it with variations.

The redevelopment project, which is expected to be completed in early November, has already brought to light significant archaeological findings. However, the dispute now extends beyond municipal councils, as the Municipality of Athens must confront the unified stance of the three ministries, which emphasize that its decisions are not enforceable and call for adherence to the approved studies.

The three ministries, in their joint announcement, state:

The Ministries of Environment and Energy, Culture, Infrastructure and Transport point out that proposed interventions in the approved operation of Vasilissis Olgas Avenue require new decisions by the competent services of the respective Ministries.

Vasilissis Olgas Avenue lies within the declared archaeological zone of Athens, while during the ongoing redevelopment project significant antiquities have been uncovered, which are being preserved and showcased. At the same time, it is a public space of special importance.

For this reason, the implementation of the existing redevelopment of the avenue has received all the necessary approvals from the Central Council of Architecture, with act 321 of the 19th session of 2021, as well as from the Ministry of Culture, with Decision ΥΠΠΟΤ/ΓΔΑΠΚ/ΑΡΧ/Α1/Φ03/56665/2802, as well as Decision 3769/14-02-2022 on behalf of “Anaplasi S.A.,” which is supervised by the competent Ministries and funded from national resources.

Taking into account the above, as well as the passage of the Tram along the avenue, the consent of OASA is also required, as defined in article 52 of the Road Traffic Code, while the compatibility of these modifications with existing legislation and transport studies is subject to review by the Technical Services of the Decentralized Administration of Attica.

Therefore, the related initiatives of the Municipality of Athens, as announced, do not produce legal effects. The Municipality is called upon to comply with the procedures provided for in the institutional framework.

Τρία Υπουργεία ενώνονται για να υπερασπιστούν τον ηττημένο των εκλογών κ. Μπακογιάννη, εις βάρος των πολιτών.

Με μια πρωτοφανή πρακτική αγνοούν τη βούληση των πολιτών και της ευρύτερης πλειοψηφίας του Δημοτικού Συμβουλίου της Αθήνας.

Πριν 5 χρόνια ο κ. Μπακογιάννης στo πλαίσιo… pic.twitter.com/bH43G2XzDP

— Haris Doukas (@h_doukas) August 29, 2025

On its part, the Municipality of Athens responded:

Three Ministries unite to defend Mr. Bakoyannis, defeated in the elections, against the citizens. With an unprecedented practice, they ignore the will of the citizens and the broader majority of the Municipal Council of Athens.

Five years ago Mr. Bakoyannis, within the framework of the disastrous “Great Walk,” closed Vasilissis Olgas by invoking Covid. He planned to turn it into a “privé” road for the users of the tennis courts in the area and for the patrons of the Zappeion café.

At that time, not a single Minister spoke.

Today they pretend to be the “guardians of the law” in order to block the Municipality of Athens.

We remind them that Vasilissis Olgas belongs to the citizens and not to political expediencies.

The Municipality of Athens will not back down.