MINSK, 30 December (BelTA) – It is important we double the pace of Minsk metro construction and, if possible, reduce the cost of works, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he attended a ceremony to launch the new section of the third line of Minsk metro on 30 December, BelTA learned.
Construction of the new 4.08km-long section of the third line of Minsk metro from Aerodromnaya station to Slutsky Gostinets station was launched in August 2017. About 90% of the equipment and materials used are Belarus-made.
Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Vladimir Kukharev said that Minsk metro carried 249 million passengers in 2024. It is expected that with the commissioning of three new stations the traffic will increase to 260 million.
"In general, three new stations cost Br832 million, which is about $70 million per kilometer in equivalent. Our neighbors spend twice as much," Vladimir Kukharev pointed out.
“It is expensive, but there is no way around it. We need to create a really good metro system in Minsk,” the president said.
At the same time, the head of state demanded to double the pace of construction. “If you take longer to build, you will always pay more. We will do our best to finance it properly. The time you say that a kilometer costs $50 million rather than $70 million, you and metro construction workers will get Hero's Stars. But for the time being it's $70 million,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
"When we buy a second tunnel boring machine, the construction will go faster. Certainly, it will reduce costs," the Minsk mayor stated.
Construction of the new 4.08km-long section of the third line of Minsk metro from Aerodromnaya station to Slutsky Gostinets station was launched in August 2017. About 90% of the equipment and materials used are Belarus-made.
"In general, three new stations cost Br832 million, which is about $70 million per kilometer in equivalent. Our neighbors spend twice as much," Vladimir Kukharev pointed out.
“It is expensive, but there is no way around it. We need to create a really good metro system in Minsk,” the president said.
At the same time, the head of state demanded to double the pace of construction. “If you take longer to build, you will always pay more. We will do our best to finance it properly. The time you say that a kilometer costs $50 million rather than $70 million, you and metro construction workers will get Hero's Stars. But for the time being it's $70 million,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
"When we buy a second tunnel boring machine, the construction will go faster. Certainly, it will reduce costs," the Minsk mayor stated.
"We should move faster," the Belarusian leader emphasized.
Follow us on:
