New Intercity Buses Terminal in Athens to be implemented as a PPP project

The solution of the PPP project seems to be preferrable for the construction of Athens’ new Intercity Buses Terminal in Eleonas area. According to a document deriving from Attiko Metro, the proprietor of the future construction site, it is stated that even though it is a private investment for a project with considerable value for the public, the PPP solution is gaining ground.

The project, which has been announced for implementation, multiple times since 2001, has become a reference point as a typical “project maquette”. Currently, Environmental Impact Assessment is being prepared, according to the same document, in order for the licensing to be sorted and the project to be able to proceed to its long-desired implementation.

In February 2016, an agreement was signed between the company that manages the current Central Intercity Buses Terminal of Athens and a team of scholars from the National Technical University of Athens -as well as other private bodies- for the preparation of the preliminary studies of the project. The assigned project manager is Attiko Metro, while the implementing entity remains undefined.

It is rather important today that Athens is one of the few European capitals that does not have an intergraded Intecity Buses Terminal (currently buses terminate in multiple points; Kifisos, Liosion Ave., Karaiskaki Sq. etc.). With the construction and operation, all services will be finally transferred to Eleonas, including international routes. The new Terminal is expected to serve more than 13mn passengers per year, or approximately 35,600 passengers daily.

Passengers will be able to reach the new Terminal by bus or Metro Line 3 (Eleonas Station), while there will be a taxi rank and short-term parking space, creating one of the largest public transport hubs in Attica.

Seeking for funding

The most “thorny” issue in this process is undoubtedly the project’s funding. The budget needed for the construction of the New Terminal is estimated at 100-150mn euros, a total cost which could be doubled if additional construction works for the surrounding area were counted in. Now, a tender for the selection of a financial consultant for the project is underway, which will determine in many ways the available funding options. The new infrastructure and its operational model are expected to be pivotal for the project’s “green light”, in terms of funding.

A positive aspect about the New Buses Terminal is that it will operate like an airport, i.e. it will accommodate many commercial uses (catering, services, retail etc.) thus generating more revenue, making it quite possible to secure funds either from EIB or EBRD (or both). For the time being, the project remains “under design” with major developments ahead of us.

Nikos Karagiannis-ypodomes.com

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