NGO head claims transport company hides problems of Tbilisi metro

Head of Tbilisi Transport and Road Association David Meskhishvili says that the leadership of Tbilisi Transport company hides problems related to the Tbilisi metro and this may pose threats to those using the transport.

Meskhishvili made the statement in response to the technical problems in the metro late on Wednesday when passengers were forced to leave carriages and had to take other transport.

Several of such technical problems have taken place over the last several months.

“The source of the problems is the low qualification of top management [of the transport company] and outdated infrastructure which is already dangerous to passengers,” Meskhishvili said.

Meskhishvili grilled Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze for his most recent announcement regarding the construction of the overground Lilo-Samgori metro station.

“The construction was announced when almost all metro stations are outdated and causing threats to people. It would have been better the 90 million USD, necessary for the new metro station, to be used on the renovation of existing stations,” Meskhishvili said.

The Tbilisi Transport company dismissed the accusations concerning the low qualification of its staff and stated that the Asian Development Bank has allocated 15 million USD for the replacement of electrical systems in the metro.

According to them, the incident on Wednesday was related to the electricity system failure.

Tbilisi metro was opened in 1966, under the Soviet Union.

It comprises two lines, 27.3 kilometers (17.0 mi) in total length, serving 23 stations.

Tbilisi metro transports more than 100 million passengers annually.

Last year fourteen people received injuries as the ceiling collapsed in the Varketili metro station.

Investigation over the cases has not been completed so far.