PSD wants to know who pays the increase in the bill for the works of the Porto metro

The bill for the metro works related to the construction of the Pink line, in Porto, and the extension of the Yellow line to Vila d’Este, in Gaia, is expected to rise by around 85 million euros. The PSD questioned the Minister of the Environment, who oversees the works, if the value is confirmed, if it has already been agreed with the consortium responsible for carrying out the works and if it has already been defined which will be the “financial instrument” that will support this increase in costs.

The request is signed by Deputy Firmino Pereira, who recalls that the “Extraordinary Price Revision Mechanism in public works contracts” is in force, to safeguard the increase in the costs of labor and equipment.

The parliamentarian adds that, just last year, the president of Metro, Tiago Braga, revealed that the Ferrovial/ACA consortium, responsible for the two works, had already formalized the request for an increase in costs. The Pink line was awarded for 189 million and the extension of the Yellow line for 98.9 million.

As a deputy, Firmino Pereira met with Tiago Braga on January 8, having been informed by the president of Metro that “the added value [em ambas as obras] would be around 30% of the award value”, that is, “very close to 85 million euros”.

In this context, the Social Democrat questions the Minister of the Environment, Duarte Cordeiro, in order to find out whether the exact amount of extra costs has already been agreed with the consortium and how payment will be ensured.

Funding for the metro works was provided by the Environmental Fund and by European funds under the Operational Program for Sustainability and Efficiency in the Use of Resources (POSEUR).

WORKS IN QUESTION

The Pink line will connect S. Bento to Casa da Música, in Porto. It will be completely underground and the work should be completed by the end of 2024, starting operations the following year. The extension of the Yellow line to Vila d’Este, in Gaia, includes the construction of a new viaduct in the Santo Ovídio area.