Athens Mayor warns of building risks in Kypseli amid Metro construction

Athens Mayor Haris Doukas has raised alarms regarding structural damage in the Kypseli district caused by the construction of Metro Line 4. According to Doukas, technical inspections of 35 buildings revealed that 14 have experienced subsidence exceeding permissible limits by up to four times. Some structures have been classified at a ‘red’ risk level, prompting concerns about safety in the event of an earthquake.

The Mayor criticized the lack of transparency from the project consortium and noted that he had to inform the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Nikos Tachiaos, himself rather than receiving official updates from Elliniko Metro. The matter has been referred to the Prosecutor's office.

In a separate discussion regarding urban management, Doukas highlighted a broader housing crisis, stating that between 20,000 and 25,000 buildings in central Athens remain unoccupied and without electricity for extended periods. He proposed a legislative framework to allow the state to utilize these private, long-term vacant properties for social housing, a model used in other countries.