A reportedly unauthorized excavation of a 160-meter tunnel as part of the Athens Metro expansion project sparked political and public controversy in Greece this week. Opposition parties have raised safety concerns, arguing that the tunnel under Katechaki Avenue was not included in the approved study for Metro Line 4.
The matter came to light when Greek Communist Party (KKE) MP Christos Katsotis questioned Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Nikos Tachiaos about the tunnel’s legitimacy. Opposition parties called for an investigation into potential safety risks and procedural lapses.
Newly appointed Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Dimas, who visited the site on Tuesday with Tachiaos and representatives of Elliniko Metro SA, said the tunnel served a specific purpose and did not pose any danger.
“This tunnel is part of a triple-track auxiliary system with a total length of 370 meters,” the ministry said in an official statement. “It will be used as a depot for parking and light maintenance of the trains serving Metro Line 4.”
Dimas emphasized that the excavation works will proceed according to the approved methodology using conventional excavation techniques. He further clarified that technical experts have confirmed there are no safety risks associated with the tunnel’s construction.
“I want to make it clear that there is no issue concerning worker safety, the project’s integrity, or the overall metro infrastructure,” Dimas said. “Contrary to some media reports, this tunnel was foreseen in the construction plan for Metro Line 4 and has been included in progress reports regularly published by Elliniko Metro SA.”
While acknowledging procedural missteps, Dimas pointed out that the controversy stems from a “methodological approach” rather than unauthorized tunnel construction. “The contractor did not fully adhere to the agreed-upon sequence of actions, but this does not mean the tunnel was not planned,” he said.
