Athens Metro Line 4 faces further delays amid legal and environmental hurdles

The construction of Athens’ Metro Line 4, originally slated for a summer 2029 opening and later pushed to 2032, may now slip to 2035 because of mounting technical, legal and administrative challenges. The project is entangled in 32 court cases and five administrative proceedings, prompting the Ministry of Infrastructure to send several issues to arbitration.

Shipowner Nikos Pateras met with the Ministry of Infrastructure on 2 July, but the dialogue stalled. Pateras has sued the state since 2022 over the planned depot in Rizari Park, arguing it would require the removal of about 200 trees from a key green lung of the city. The Supreme Court partially sided with him, ordering a revision of the technical‑environmental study (TEPEM). The study was recently rejected by the Ministry of Environment, and the Athens municipality reiterated its refusal in February.

Additional disputes have arisen in the Exarcheia and Kypseli districts, where court rulings have altered fence positions and further hampered works. A proposed 300‑metre tunnel segment could add €120 million per kilometre, increasing both cost and timeline.