By Eleni Botas
At the beginning of July, according to information, the tender for the private body that will take over the management and operation of the Thessaloniki Metro is expected to take place.
The project, with a total budget of 292 million euros, received the green light from the Inter-Ministerial PPP Works Committee, while the duration of the contract is 12 years.
As reported in Capital.gr sources with knowledge the competition will take place in only one phase and not in two, as is the case with most projects (ie expression of interest and then submission of financial bids).
This means that the competition will be held with the expression of interest of the groups that will participate in the process and the submission of their financial offer, at the same time.
As for the contractor, it is estimated that he will emerge, 8 months later.
The State, according to information, will not participate in the Private Operation and Maintenance Agency that will undertake the project, while the contractor’s fee will be linked to the quality of services.
The partnership will concern the Operation and Maintenance of the network and stations of the Thessaloniki Metro, both for the main line and for the extension to Kalamaria, as well as the rolling stock that will be used.
It should be noted that this is the first time in domestic time and data that a private entity will enter a public project of this kind, but this is a common practice and trend internationally, such as the Copenhagen Metro in Denmark, Singapore and others. . The reasons that favor this model are related to the competition, cost control, rationalization, as well as the provision of high quality services by the Private Partnership Agency (IFS).
Also, the risk of availability of the provided services is transferred to the IFS, without any responsibility and additional costs to be borne by the State.
The profile of the project
The Thessaloniki Metro starts northwest of the New Railway Station. Crossing the city center underground, it ends southeast. It includes 18 stations in total, on the main line, 9.6 km long, and in the extension to Kalamaria, 4.6 km long.
About 360,000 passengers are expected to use the network on a daily basis when operating at full capacity. 18 state-of-the-art, driverless, trains have already been received and are running test routes, while a tender is underway for the supply of another 15 trains.
The total percentage of implementation of the financial object of the contract amounts to 85%. Archaeological works have been completed at all locations of the project, except for Venizelos station, where it is located at 97%.
Source: Capital
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