EC approves EUR 517 mln financing for metro line in Bucharest

The European Commission (EC) has endorsed the EUR 517 million funding dedicated to the metro line planned to link Bucharest airport with the existing subway network, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu announced in a Facebook post, on February 13.

She warned, though, that the EU will finance only 6 km of the 14 km route planned between the existing metro station 1 Mai and Bucharest Airport.

The EC decided to fund only part of the project after Romania failed to address the Request for Clarifications related to the rest of the project.

The Commission expressed concerns about the lack of an accurate evaluation of the alternative solutions (underground versus above-ground link) and visible under-evaluation of the cost for the second section of the route. The European Commission will thus finance only the 6 km section that links the existing metro network (1 Mai station) with Baneasa shopping center, where the future metro station Tokyo will be located.

The Romanian government expects to finance the section that stretches from Tokyo to Bucharest Airport with a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

(Photo source: Facebook/Metrorex)