G. Karagiannis: Infrastructure projects in Thessaloniki bring growth and many new jobs

A message that without public infrastructure there is no real growth, no investment attraction, no job creation, sent the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Mr. George Karagiannis, referring to the major projects taking place in Thessaloniki, in an interview in the newspaper “Macedonia of Sunday” and in the journalist Nikos Oikonomou.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure pointed out the significant shift that took place under the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and changed the whole philosophy around infrastructure as the goal from the first moment was to highlight “the added value of public investment, new financial tools and the importance of large and emblematic works “.

“Without public infrastructure, there is no real growth, no investment, no job creation,” he said.

Specifically for Thessaloniki, he noted that the implementation of a well-designed project program of about 5 billion euros is underway, which concerns the city and the wider area.

“It is a programmatic commitment of the government, that in the coming years Thessaloniki will be a different, modern European city that will attract investments” he noted and attributed the stagnation of the last decade of the crisis “to the restrictive policies but also to wrong choices of the period 2015-2019 “.

Mr. Karagiannis acknowledged the need that the city had for years for major infrastructure projects and extroversion in order to highlight its metropolitan role in the Balkans and Southeastern Europe in general. To ensure its strong position in the geopolitical dynamics of the wider region.

“However, for years, the works started and ended in announcements or in tarpaulins,” he commented. In fact, according to Mr. Karagiannis, the open, erected and active construction sites are a proof of the new perception in public works and a way to remove “the justified, sometimes, distrust of the residents”.

“It is also true that in Thessaloniki there has historically been a strong tendency to over-politicize projects. That is why we must stop politicizing infrastructure projects. Let us all become more responsible and understand that projects are done for the next generations and not for the next elections. “To have more confidence and to be more optimistic about the future,” he stressed.

FlyOver: Ideally designed project for Thessaloniki

“This is a project ideally designed for Thessaloniki, a state-of-the-art air highway, without tolls, that will change the daily life of the city,” he added.

According to Mr. Karagiannis: “this innovative project, with the largest air route in Greece, with a budget of 373 million euros, will alleviate the Eastern Regional and consequently the transparent traffic within the city. The competition ran at an unprecedented pace, for Greek data and now at the end of the year the first construction sites will be installed to start its construction “.

Thessaloniki Metro: “We will deliver the emblematic work at the end of 2023”

Regarding the Thessaloniki Metro, Mr. Karagiannis stressed that “as long as some people persistently engage in a sterile and barren confrontation, we at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport with Costas Karamanlis are working intensively to deliver this emblematic work to Thessaloniki at the end.” of 2023 “.

He reiterated the position of the Ministry that Thessaloniki will have both Metro and ancient as well as the commitment to highlight the archaeological findings with the utmost respect, based at the same time on technical science.

Early summer the “orphan” kilometer of Potidea

Regarding the connection of the city with Halkidiki, Mr. Karagiannis, noted that the goal of the Ministry is the “orphan” kilometer of Potidea to be put into use at the beginning of the summer and at the first big exit of the excursionists in Halkidiki, the three days of the Holy Spirit the movement to be done without hassle.

He reminded that the “first kilometers, and in fact of the new route, in the Thermi-Galatista section, have already been handed over to the traffic, while the project will be completed in the fall, much earlier than the schedule”.

Aliakmonas Bridge: A key project for Central Macedonia

Asked about this, Mr. Karagiannis underlined the importance of the bridge over the river Aliakmonas, on the PATHE highway in the direction of Thessaloniki, in the section Maliakos-Klidi.

“It is crucial for the wider region of Central Macedonia. A project that has already been completed by 50% and we estimate that in 2022 it will be delivered for use to the citizens,” he noted.

As he said, “with the completion of this project, the upgrade of PATHE in the part of Central Macedonia will be achieved, and we will contribute to the local sustainable mobility of people and goods”.

The Deputy Minister of Infrastructure then referred to the radical upgrade of the Thessaloniki-Edessa road, with a total length of about 80km and a budget of 419 million euros, which includes operation and maintenance.

“And this project is being carried out in the heart of Central Macedonia, it is of crucial importance, it extends from the prefecture of Thessaloniki to the prefecture of Pella. The project will reduce travel times, and therefore the cost, will set new road safety standards, and will bring the city and the industrial area closer to the productive hinterland of Pella and the Region in general “.

The connection of OLTH with PATHE and the railway is of strategic importance

Regarding the construction of the road connection of the 6th pier of the Port of Thessaloniki with PATHE and the Egnatia Odos, Mr. Karagiannis, after emphasizing that the project that was on the “air” for years, is now becoming a reality, characterized the project of “strategic importance” .

As he explained “it will significantly increase the possibilities of combined transport but also the overall competitiveness of the Port of Thessaloniki” while “the development of the port brings growth to the city, large investments and jobs”.

For this reason, according to the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, the railway connection of the 6th pier was announced. “Our goal is to turn the port into a freight hub for transport and logistics in Northern Greece and with a direct positive impact on the Balkan markets,” he noted.

Mr. Karagiannis explained that the wider picture is completed by the key project of the Suburban Railway of Western Thessaloniki.

“Western Thessaloniki needs infrastructure, better access to stimulate mobility, interconnection and the local economy of the region’s dynamic municipalities,” he said, adding that of the € 4.5 billion railway package, most concerns Thessaloniki. .

“Speaking of the port, the railway and the road infrastructure, we must always think about the new modern airport that has been delivered, since this is how Thessaloniki is understood as a supra-local transit hub,” he underlined.

Upgrading projects of the daily life of the citizens

The Undersecretary of Infrastructure also referred to the importance of the smaller projects of great importance for the daily life of the citizens, emphasizing that “we seek a city that is alive, safe, healthy, sustainable”.

In this context are included “interventions concerning flood protection projects but also the school units, focusing on both, Western Thessaloniki”.

Specifically for the schools “the project, with a budget of 129 million euros, includes the construction of 17 state-of-the-art, bioclimatic, energy-upgraded schools and in the second quarter of 2022 we will have the temporary contractor. We will have construction sites here during the year”.

The cornerstone is the upgrade of public transport

Regarding OASTH, Mr. Karagiannis stressed that “public transport and their upgrade is a cornerstone, to achieve a broader transport policy.”

“Up to 460 buses are on a daily basis and now additional vehicles are available that can be added to the active fleet. To do this, we are taking steps to gradually return about 100 drivers to the helm of the buses,” he said.

Outlining the holistic approach of the Ministry of Infrastructure to the issue of infrastructure, Mr. Karagiannis stressed that at the moment “there is already a rich package of new generation projects, in various phases of execution. new generation, because they integrate modern European projects: sustainable and sustainable development, environmentally friendly, with the integration of the climate parameter and with the aim of climate neutrality in 2050 “.