EIB provides EUR 465 mln loan for extension of Bucharest Metro system

Newsroom 16/12/2011 | 15:48

The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide an EUR 465 million loan to finance the design, construction and commissioning of Section II of the Bucharest Metro Line 5.

The Bucharest Metro project involves the extension of Line 5 between Universitate and Pantelimon, the construction of the Pantelimon 2 depot, and the acquisition of 30 new trains for this line. The new section, which is expected to be in operation after March 2019, will increase the annual number of metro passengers by 34 million to almost 260 million. This metro line will link the Center to Eastern Bucharest, offering an alternative transportation route for 350.000 inhabitants, apart from surface transportation.

The construction of Section II will run in parallel with the building of Section I between Drumul Taberei and Universitate, which is also being co-financed by EIB with a loan of EUR 395 million signed two years ago.

The new metro Line 5 will lead to a reduction of traffic congestion and decreased traffic-related emissions and noise levels, as people will have the metro option.

Ovidiu Posirca