Praha in the coming year will address revenue shortfalls or the construction of metro line D.

Prague – The capital city will have to cope with a decline in revenue caused by the covid-19 pandemic and the adoption of the government tax package next year. The geological survey will be completed, and the construction of metro line D will begin. A tram line from Barrandov to Holyně will also start, and the transport company (DPP) will work on preparing further extensions of the lines, while construction will take place at the Hloubětín depot. Diagnosis and repairs are planned for Prague's bridges, and the reconstruction and completion of the Industrial Palace at the Exhibition Grounds should begin.

Prague's representatives approved the budget for next year this December, but the city leadership will have to adjust it at the beginning of the year. The reason is the approved government tax package, due to which the city will lose 2.1 billion in 2021 and another three billion in the following year. Since the city approved its budget before the Parliament approved the government package, the drop in revenue could not be taken into account.

The city's finances next year will also be affected by this year's drop in tax revenues caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The exact amount is not known yet, but the city leadership estimates it will be over ten billion. In addition to tax revenues, a decline in income from public transport fares is also expected, amounting to nearly two billion. Therefore, the Prague leadership plans to borrow up to five billion crowns for investments next year.

In transportation, the most significant development will likely be the start of construction of metro line D between Pankrác and Olbrachtova, which is expected to begin in the spring, about half a year later than initially planned. The geological survey for the construction will be completed in the summer. In the areas where the survey is completed, the transport company (DPP) is preparing one to three exploratory boreholes in the area of the so-called turning tracks of the future Pankrác station. The boreholes will take place from the surface.

For next year, DPP also plans to initiate the extension of the tram line from Barrandov to Holyně. The exact start date for construction is unclear. This section will later connect with the line from Holyně to Slivenec. DPP will also work on projects to extend the line from the C metro station Kobylisy to the Bohnice housing estate and to the Central Bohemian Zdiby. The construction of the so-called energy center and transformer station will be completed at the Hloubětín depot. After that, DPP will begin constructing the new tram depot hall. Trams are expected to start running to the Pankrác metro station by mid-year, where DPP has already extended the tracks from the Pražského povstání station.

The diagnosis of the state of the Mánes Bridge is set to begin. The Technical Road Administration (TSK) is looking for a company in a tender to inspect the bridge. Next year, the city will apply for a building permit for the construction of the new Dvorecký Bridge between Prague 4 and 5. The heavily used Barrandov Bridge will be repaired, with reconstruction work already started this year by TSK while it is in operation. The work on the bridge will not affect traffic next year. Preparatory work will continue on the repair of the Libeň Bridge, with the actual reconstruction expected to begin in 2022. Work will also continue on the construction of the footbridge from Holešovice to Karlín, which is to be completed in about two years.

The long-planned reconstruction of the Industrial Palace at the Exhibition Grounds and the completion of its burned-out left wing should begin. The city is now selecting a construction company, and the work is estimated to cost around two billion crowns. The renovation of the Křižík Pavilion and the Spirala Theatre at the Exhibition Grounds will also continue.

Funds will be allocated for the renovation of Wenceslas Square and Malostranské náměstí, with the city investing 220 million crowns in the first case and 45 million crowns in the second. The renovation of the lower part of Wenceslas Square has already begun. The city is currently reconstructing the section from Můstek to the tram tracks in the middle of the square.

At Masaryk Train Station, the Penta group is expected to begin construction of the first part of its Masaryčka project early next year. The construction of the new Smíchov City district by Sekyra Group will also continue, which began this year. The city also plans to announce an international architectural competition for the construction of a new philharmonic hall near Vltavská metro station.

Prague's roads and sidewalks will be repaired. The city will commission a study on the expansion of the South Connector in the section between the intersection of 5. května and Vídeňská streets. The complete reconstruction of Koněvova Street, which began this year, will continue.

The city will find a company through a public tender to complete the multifunctional transport center at Malovanka, whose construction started in 2014 and was initially supposed to be completed a year later along with the opening of Blanka tunnel. The price of the contract is estimated at 601 million crowns. Another phase of the modernization of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant on Císařský Island, involving the renovation of the old wastewater treatment line, could also begin.