October 2023

Geostroy commenced the construction of a new metro station. The project is located in Obelya Residential District and includes a covered aboveground metro section (154 m), a covered metro ramp with three types of structures in total length of 116.35 m, a tunnel built by the ‘cut-and-cover’ method (281.22 m), and a tunnel along the existing railway line, which will be built using the ‘Milan method’.

The symbolic first sod was cut by Geostroy’s Executive Director M.Eng. Tsvetoslav Petkov, Metropolitan JSC’s Executive Director Prof. PhD Eng. Stoyan Bratoev, and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by official guests from Sofia Municipality, Metropolitan JSC, and representatives of GEOTECHMIN GROUP. His Eminence Archimandrite Evtimiy conducted a water blessing service for health and prosperity and for the successful start of Metro Line 3 Extension Project.

‘Geostroy, part of GEOTECHMIN GROUP, has a strong track record in the execution of metro construction projects. The company has built Business Park Sofia Metro Station, Zemlyane Metro Depot and participated in the construction of James Bourchier Metro Station. I hope this time we will show again what we are capable of. There is no such thing as an easy metro project and that’s why this station is a great challenge for us. The construction works will be carried out beneath the existing railway infrastructure of the National Railway Infrastructure Company, which brings about an additional difficulty,’ said M.Eng. Petkov. He assured that the Group’s team will use its best expertise, professionalism and resilience in the construction of the new metro station.

‘With this project, we have set three main goals – a connection between Metro Lines 1 and 2, a connection of Sofia Metro to the National Railway Network in west direction, and a connection to bus transport. It is a modern transportation hub of key importance for the entire metro network, because it will shorten the travel times for passengers using the two metro lines,’ said Mayor Fandakova. She wished the contractor and the construction supervisor lots of success and trouble-free execution of project works, adding ‘We rely on the builder for the execution of this difficult project.’

‘The purpose is to provide a convenient transport connection for Sofia citizens living in the region and for passengers from the country using the railway lines. By doing so, it is expected to boost passengers’ use of rail transport. It will help ease the traffic and reduce the number of the circulating private vehicles by about 5,600 vehicles daily. Carbon emissions will fall by 1,500 tonnes per year,’ said Prof. Bratoev.

The time for project completion is 36 months. The construction of the new metro station will provide a direct and faster connection to the main residential districts in Sofia, to most public/administrative and cultural institutions and Sofia Airport. It will also increase the number of people travelling from western and south-western towns in Sofia region, so that they can use the Sofia metro and have direct access to the new railway station “Obelya”. The implementation of this project will also bring about significant environmental benefits.