Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze announced that Varketili Metro Station will be closed for 45 days starting July 12 due to essential rehabilitation work.
As Kakha Kaladze stated at a Tbilisi municipal government meeting, the rehabilitation project was prepared by Probuild Expert LLC with the involvement of foreign specialists.
“As you know, the reconstruction and major repair work at Varketili Metro Station was delayed for a certain period. The delay was primarily due to the need for additional stability studies of the reinforced concrete arch, following the removal of asbestos-cement panels from the station’s ceiling, as required by the Levan Samkharauli National Bureau of Forensic Expertise.
Within the framework of the required studies, additional work was carried out, including laboratory examination of concrete and reinforcement conditions across the entire surface of the waiting hall’s reinforced concrete arch; complete geotechnical scanning of spaces beyond the arch; examination of the condition of snow support details in the escalator tunnel, and other work. Based on the study results, a rehabilitation project for reinforced concrete structures was prepared, which includes the following main work: cleaning and treatment of corroded/damaged ceiling surfaces; filling/compression of existing voids beyond the arch with appropriate technical solutions; sealing of arch temperature grooves/cracks to prevent underground water seepage; rehabilitation of snow support details in the inclined escalator tunnel,” announced the Tbilisi Mayor.
According to him, completion of the station’s comprehensive rehabilitation work is planned for November-December.
“The project involves extensive work that requires specialised technological processes, which cannot be carried out while passengers are using the station. To minimise the duration of additional rehabilitation on the reinforced concrete arch and escalator tunnel, we have decided to close Varketili Metro Station for 45 days starting July 12. Afterwards, we will proceed directly with finishing work. For safety reasons, a 45-day closure is necessary,” noted Kakha Kaladze.
Tbilisi Mayor also announced today that a contract has been signed with a Spanish-Italian consortium to develop a conceptual rehabilitation project for 12 Tbilisi Metro stations. The contract is valued at EUR 4 million, excluding VAT.
Kaladze emphasized that the renewal of the metro stations is a top priority; however, he acknowledged the challenges faced, noting that there is a lack of specialized companies within Georgia capable of executing such projects, whether for planning or construction.
“Metro stations are among the most vital components of our public transportation system, serving the highest number of passengers daily. Many stations urgently require renewal and improvements,” Kaladze said.
“To address this, we are actively collaborating with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and have made significant progress in moving these initiatives forward,” Kaladze added.
According to him, the total budget allocated by EBRD for the 12 metro station rehabilitation project amounts to EUR 55 million.
“A contract has been signed with a Spanish-Italian consortium to prepare a conceptual project for the rehabilitation of 12 Tbilisi Metro stations, with the contract value amounting to EUR 4 million excluding VAT.
According to the terms outlined in the contract, the contractor is required to submit a conceptual design for the 12 Tbilisi Metro stations within 12 months. This conceptual project will serve as the foundation for detailed design development and the subsequent procurement of rehabilitation works. The implementation of the rehabilitation is scheduled to take place over the next five years. The total budget allocated by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) amounts to EUR 55 million.
“This funding is a loan, and with the involvement of experienced international companies specialized in this field, we are confident in our ability to execute this project,” Kakha Kaladze emphasized.
Furthermore, according to the Tbilisi Mayor, the list of stations for rehabilitation was determined considering their existing condition, with priority given to stations such as Guramishvili, Station Square, Sarajishvili, and others.
