New obstacles for Athens Metro Line 4 tender as both contenders’ appeals are sustained

A major reversal for the development of Athens Metro Line 4 tender, seems to have happened yesterday.

According to sources of ypodomes.com and the first available information, the two appeals previously filed by the two finalists to the Council of State, were both sustained.

It is reminded that the two contenders are J/V AKTOR-ANSALDOBREDA-HITACHI and J/V AVAX-GHELLA-ALSTOM.

The first interpretation given is that the Council of State, having heard the arguments of both participants, essentially decided to reject the evaluations by the tender committee.

As a result, scenarios are beginning to emerge about the fate of the tender itself, that could lead even to the cancellation of the project while others talk about a decision that needs a deeper consideration.

Nevertheless, it is certain that we are at a crossroads for the sole large-scale project of the country, with a budget of 1.8bn euros that promises to revive the construction market.

According to preliminary estimates, what will be done here is to lose some more time. Sources close to the tender point out that we should remain cautious with this subject, before we say anything.

Three scenarios

However, always according to the same sources, depending on what the decision will be, we are in front of three basic scenarios. The first is to return the tender back to the evaluation stage by the competition committee while the second scenario is the cancellation of the tender altogether.

The first two scenarios are linked as either both contenders could survive or one of them, allowing the tender to go on. In the second scenario, both can be rejected resulting to the whole structure of the tender to collapse.

The third scenario is -even if the appeals have been accepted- for the tender to proceed (it is something we have seen in the past). Out of these three scenarios, the weakest one appears to be the third.

In any case, the tender enters into new adventures and a doubtful future. There are voices suggesting that it needs to stay alive and be completed because 2 years will be lost for a project that has been expected for a long time by the market.

On the other hand, there are other voices that point out that with the tender regarding the precursory being stagnant, perhaps a new tender would give a new impetus to the project.

What is currently being recommended is a careful reading of the Council of State’s decision rationale and the consequent compliance of Attiko Metro.