«The remarkable expensive materials forced a review of the project of technical and economic feasibility, necessary to avoid blocking the start of the work and accumulating delays”. Talking is Bernardino Chiaia, extraordinary commissioner of metro line 2. Yesterday he sent the proposal to remodulate the project to Matteo Salvini, Minister of Transport, in the face of a first allocation of one billion and 828 million euros. Funds that are no longer enough for all 13 metro stops planned in the first section, due to inflation: the costs increased by 36% for the cost of materials compared to the approval of the initial project.
Fewer metro stations
The stations planned for the first lot that will see the light, from Rebaudengo to Porta Nuova, will be 10 to date. With the prospect of then continuing, with new funding, with the two missing ones up to the Polytechnic. «We are already working with the institutions to quickly identify additional resources that will allow the line to continue southwards as planned», adds Chiaia.
«They stay Central to the project are the three stops located along the railway trench (Via Gottardo/Via Sempione) in the northern area of the cityfrom which the works will start, and the future possibility of creating the outlet towards San Mauro”, we read in the press release, with the Corelli station which will be moved one hundred meters to the east and merged with the Cimarosa station to give life to the new Corelli/Tabacchi stop, guaranteeing an efficient service to the future hub of the former Manifattura Tabacchi. A change, compared to the initial project, not dictated by inflation but by practical aspects. By completely deleting – and not postponing, as for the two stations towards Poli – a stop from the route.
The Cinquestelle controversy
But the 5 Stars don’t agree: «We express deep indignation at the decision to cut a stop from the new metro line in Barriera di Milano – attacks the group leader at Palazzo Civico Andrea Russi – This incomprehensible choice seriously damages a neighborhood that needs to be reborn and penalizes students, workers and elderly people who depend on public transport.” Regional candidate Sarah Disabato also insists: «Here are the incredible results of the couple of “institutional harmony”, the mayor of Turin Lo Russo and the president of the Region Cirio». Even within the majority at Palazzo Civico there are those who attack, but the Minister of Transport Salvini: «The minister came to Turin a few months ago to announce the start of the tender on Metro two and reassure us that the funds would be found also to cover the increase in the cost of materials – attacks Nadia Conticelli – If, on the threshold of the elections, the government fails to fulfill its commitments, I doubt whether politics is being played at the expense of the citizens”.
The mayor of Turin, Stefano Lo Russo, in acknowledging the need to review the project due to the significant increase in costs due to the high cost of materials, nevertheless expresses “appreciation for the difficult technical work carried out in recent months by the Commissioner”. And he confirms: «The City has already been engaged for some time in asking the government for further resources to cover the necessary extension towards the South. The officialization of the coverage is expected in the next financial law.”
