The construction of metro line D is postponed from September to spring of next year

Prague – The construction of the Prague metro line D between Pankrác and Olbrachtova will likely start in spring 2021, about six months later than originally planned. The tunneling was supposed to begin this September. This was stated by Daniel Šabík, the head of the communication department of the Prague Public Transit Company (DPP), in response to a query from ČTK. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the DPP has extended, for example, construction proceedings and deadlines for tenders. The construction process was also prolonged by a number of objections. DPP completed part of the geological survey in Pankrác last summer. Metro line D will connect Pankrác and Písnice in the first phase.

"Before the corona crisis, we said we wanted to start building this September. According to the current development, in the optimistic scenario we could start building in the spring of next year, and in the pessimistic scenario six months later, that is in the fall of next year," said Šabík. "We would like to put the fourth line of the Prague metro into operation in the second half of 2028, but it will depend on when we can start building the first section," he added.

Due to the coronavirus epidemic, deadlines in tenders for the company that will carry out the construction work in the section between Pankrác and Olbrachtova have been extended. "During the state of emergency, construction proceedings ran much slower, or rather in a limited mode," stated Šabík. The company applied for a building permit for the Pankrác-Nové Dvory section at the end of last year. The construction process was also prolonged due to objections and their resolution, which was more labor-intensive.

DPP completed last summer the geological survey that was started at two out of four locations. In the areas where the survey has been completed, the company is preparing one to three exploratory geological drillings into the space of the so-called turning tracks of the future metro station Pankrác. The drillings will take place from the surface. The survey at the remaining two locations will last until the summer of next year. Most of the tunnels from the geological survey will be part of the future metro line D.

In addition to the survey, DPP is evaluating bids from applicants in the tender for the construction contractor and monitoring of the Pankrác-Olbrachtova section. "However, we are waiting for the decision of the Office for the Protection of Competition in this matter. At the same time, construction proceedings for the Pankrác D - Nové Dvory section are ongoing," Šabík mentioned.

In the first phase, the metro will be built between Pankrác and Nové Dvory and will continue to the Písnice Depot. In the future, a section from Pankrác to Náměstí Míru is planned to be constructed. It has not yet been decided where the metro will possibly lead from Náměstí Míru. One of the options was Náměstí Republiky, according to another, the route should head towards Žižkov and further into Vysočany. The total estimated cost is 72.6 billion crowns, and the investor is DPP.