A meeting was held today at the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, chaired by the Deputy Minister, Mr. Nikos Tachiaos, to discuss, on the one hand, measures to address the damage observed in apartments in Kypseli area further to the passage of “NIKI” Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and, on the other hand, the safe resumption of tunneling activities on Line 4.
A meeting had preceded between ELLINIKO METRO S.A. and the Contracting Joint Venture’s engineers, led by the Company’s BoD Chairman and CEO, Messrs. Christos Karadimas and Christos Fafoutis respectively, and the Mayor of Athens, Mr. Haris Doukas, his associates, and representatives of the tenants of the affected buildings. During the subject meeting, which was conducted in a constructive climate, executives from ELLINIKO METRO S.A. and the Contracting Joint Venture briefed their counterparts on the actual incidents occurred during the TBM’s passage through Kypseli area and the safety protocols of the project and listened to their views.
At the meeting that was subsequently held at the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, the following decisions were made, namely:
1. ELLINIKO METRO S.A. will submit a request to the Technical Chamber of Greece, the State’s technical advisor, to appoint experts who will inspect the buildings and apartments where damage has occurred and issue their relevant findings regarding the condition of the structures. The associated cost will not be borne by private individuals.
The purpose of this initiative is to obtain a well-documented third-party expert opinion on the project, as well, in order to reinforce the tenants’ sense of safety and to confirm the adequacy of the repair/restoration works that the contracting joint venture is contractually obligated to perform — and is already performing, on an as-requested basis. All data that has been recorded will be made available to the experts, provided it is deemed necessary for their task.
2. For the tunneling works to resume in the forthcoming weeks, a design is under preparation, on behalf of the Contracting Joint Venture, by specialized experts regarding the drilling conditions and the particular geotechnical conditions.
The findings and methodology of the relevant report will be presented prior to the commencement of the relevant works, so that the public can be informed about the additional measures adopted for the overall safety of the overlaying structures and of their users in the particular geotechnical environment in which the Line 4 Project is progressing at this phase.
ELLINIKO METRO S.A. hereby confirms once more that the Company’s executives and the Contractors – selected each time to compile/perform the Company’s designs and projects – possess in full the required know-how in order to implement urban railway projects even in the most adverse environments, while, as far as the contractual documents are concerned, they adhere to the strictest protocols for safety issues and for the repair/restoration of any damage that may occur. At the same time, the Company’s main concern is to build the citizens confidence in the projects’ safety and quality.
