Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze is instructing the City Hall’s Internal Audit and Monitoring Service, as well as his own deputies, to investigate the problems that arose at Avlabari Metro Station following heavy rainfall.

As Kaladze stated at the session of the Tbilisi municipal government, the renovation of the station in question was completed two years ago, and it is imperative to establish why water seeped in and whether the works were carried out to the required standard.

“Due to heavy rainfall, certain problems arose at Avlabari Metro Station, whose renovation was completed some years ago. We all saw the footage; it was, quite literally, raining inside just as it was outside. The station had previously been in a dire state, worn out, in disrepair. It took some time to agree on the project and complete the procedures, but the project was carried out nonetheless. Currently, however, a deficiency is causing inconvenience and discomfort. I wish to instruct our Internal Audit and Monitoring Service, as well as my deputies, to open an investigation into this matter. I do not wish to prejudge the outcome, but companies take on responsibility for the execution of works on any given project, and those works must be carried out to a proper standard. I have also seen photographs; the drainage pipes were misaligned, and the question that must be answered is why. I do not know where the fault lies with the company, the receiving party, or the supervisor. It falls to the audit service to investigate everything thoroughly, and if necessary, to take the appropriate steps,” declared the Mayor of Tbilisi.

Kaladze also addressed all company representatives working on City Hall projects directly, making clear that responsibility and quality are paramount in the execution of any works.

“In general, this kind of irresponsible attitude is categorically unacceptable. It damages all of us, myself personally included. Nobody is talking about the company here; everyone is talking about the City Hall and about us. We cannot leave such incidents unanswered. Companies working on City Hall projects must be fully aware that responsibility and quality are of the utmost importance. We carry out these works so that they last for decades; we are replacing everything from the ground up. Yes, it causes disruption; the work takes longer; movement is restricted. But works of this nature cannot be done any other way. Just as we bear enormous responsibility, so too do the companies. This city does not belong solely to the members of Tbilisi City Hall’s government; it belongs to everyone, and we must all share this responsibility equally. We live in this capital with our families, with our children, and we want only the very best for our beautiful Tbilisi,” Kaladze noted.

He also mentioned that the heavy rainfall in recent days had led to various issues in several parts of the city, but the relevant services had been on-site from the very first day, providing support to residents.

“The intense rainfall that has hit Georgia in recent days, including Tbilisi, has caused considerable problems, damaging existing infrastructure, residential buildings, bringing down slopes and retaining walls. The rain uprooted trees at several locations in the capital, damaged street lighting, and damaged road and sports infrastructure. I shall not begin to list all the problems in detail. Our relevant services have been actively engaged from day one: damage is being assessed, and the appropriate steps are being taken. There has not been a single family affected by the bad weather whose door our staff have not knocked on. We will stand by everyone to the fullest extent of our means,” declared the Mayor of Tbilisi.