The Prague council approved the construction of metro line D for 25 billion

Prague - The first section of the metro line D will lead from Pankrác to Písnice and will cost 24.69 billion crowns. Its construction was approved today by the city's council. At the same time, the project was included in the so-called Operational Program for Transport, from which the city wants to obtain money from European funds for the construction. Tereza Králová, spokesperson for the city hall, told ČTK.
    "The Council of the City of Prague approves the intention to construct the metro line I.D," states the document approved by the council members. It is not yet clear when the metro will start operating, but if Prague secures a commitment for funds from the EU next year, it should be operational by 2022.
    The new line will be over ten kilometers long and will serve several residential areas in the Krč, Lhotky, Libuše, Nové Dvory, and Písnice regions. It is expected to relieve line C. In addition to the segment from Pankrác to the south, a route between Náměstí Míru and Pankrác is planned for the future. This would create a transport alternative to the Nuselsky Bridge, which will need to be repaired in the future.
    Section D will begin at the Pankrác station as a branch of line C. Originally, a transfer station was considered, but this option would have increased construction costs by several billion. At the Pankrác station, trains from lines C and D will alternate, with a line D train inserted behind every two line C trains during peak hours. In the evening and on weekends, one train from each line will regularly alternate.
    According to the document, the advantage of this option is that it can utilize the current metro fleet, as well as the technical and technological support of the metro and the repair and maintenance system. It will also not be necessary to immediately build a new depot in Písnice, as the trains will come from line C. Annual operating costs are estimated to be 337 million crowns.
    Prague wants to register the construction in the operational program for the years 2014 to 2020. As of August 31, the city has spent a total of 513 million crowns on the preparation of the line, and for this year, it has contracts for work worth 151 million.
    The metro D project has completed documentation for the land use permit. The local council of Prague 4 is currently deciding on it. Last November, it received a positive opinion in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process. According to estimates, construction could start in 2015.
    Prague is also currently constructing an extension of metro line A from Dejvická to Motol. It is expected to be completed in 2014.