Lisbon's Violet Metro Line Faces Major Budget Hike and Delayed Completion Until 2029

Major Budget Increase for Lisbon's Violet Line

The Violet Line of the Lisbon metro, which will connect the municipalities of Loures and Odivelas, is set to see an increase in costs by €150 million, raising the total expenditure to €677 million from the previously estimated €527 million. This decision was approved during a recent cabinet meeting and announced by the Ministry of Infrastructure.

Extended Timeline for Completion

In addition to the budget increase, the timeline for the completion of the project has also been pushed back. The line, originally expected to be completed by 2027, will now not be operational until 2029.

Reasons Behind the Changes

Minister António Leitão Amaro highlighted that the initial construction bids were deemed too low, leading to their rejection. He stated, "It is necessary to launch the tender, materialize this work, and revise the values upwards due to price conditions."

The ministry noted all submitted bids for the Violet Line construction exceeded the base price by an average of 46% compared to the previous government's estimates. Consequently, the project’s cost has surged by 28%, and new funding sources from both national and European avenues are being explored.

Project Details

The Violet Line construction was initially projected to require €250 million for design and construction, including the acquisition of rolling stock and signaling systems. The line will span 11.5 km and feature 17 stations. In Loures, nine stations will be built, serving the parishes of Loures, Santo António dos Cavaleiros, and Frielas, over a stretch of approximately 6.4 km. Meanwhile, in Odivelas, stations will be established in Póvoa de Santo Adrião, Olival de Basto, Odivelas, Ramada, and Caneças, covering about 5.1 km. The design includes 12 surface stations, three underground, and two in a trench.

The financing will be secured through the European Investment Bank and increased contributions from the state budget and the Environmental Fund. However, due to the delays, the Violet Line will not be included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) as previously confirmed by the government in February.