Tbilisi Mayor announces ‘much needed’ repair works in metro
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, June 6
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze says that Tbilisi metro, which is in much need of renovation, will work from 6 am to 11 pm starting from July 1, for one year, as electricity cables must be changed and repair works will be carried out using 15 million USD allocated by the Asian Development Bank.
The repair work will cover the installation of new cables, 32 European standard ventilation systems, and 28 airing tunnels.
“We have a very complicated situation in Tbilisi Metro as it has not seen renovated since it was opened. About 450 km cables will be replaced with modern, ISO standard cables”, Kaladze stated on Wednesday.
He said that conditioning systems would be installed in 28 tunnels.
Head of Tbilisi Transport and Road Association David Meskhishvili stated earlier in April that the leadership of Tbilisi Transport Company hid problems related to the Tbilisi metro and this could pose threats to those using the transport.
Meskhishvili made the statement after several cases when passengers had to leave carriages due to the technical failure.
Tbilisi metro was opened in 1966, under the Soviet Union.
It comprises two lines, 27.3 kilometers (17.0 mi) in total length, serving 23 stations.
Tbilisi metro transports more than 100 million passengers annually.
Last year fourteen people received injuries as the ceiling collapsed in the Varketili metro station.
Investigation over the cases has not been completed so far.
