This afternoon, in Loures, within the Lisbon district, a government official made a significant announcement during the relaunch ceremony of the tender for the construction of the Loures-Odivelas light rail metro (Violet Line), representing an investment of 600 million euros.
In last year’s initial tender for the Violet Line, proposals from Zagope and the Mota-Engil consortium were rejected as they exceeded the base price, initially set at 450 million euros.
“We have been witnessing underbudgeting in housing, high-speed rail, and also here in the metro system, which delays development and investment, subsequently hindering the lives of the Portuguese. We have heard of years of waiting affecting hundreds of thousands of people. We need to refine these processes,” the government official stated.
In March, the Council of Ministers approved a proposal to increase the funding for the Violet Line by 150 million euros, raising the total investment cost to a base value of 600 million euros, representing a 28% increase.
This sum will be complemented by an additional 77.5 million euros to cover expropriation costs and all project advisory services, notably including project review and work supervision.
The deadline for submitting proposals for this new tender is set at 45 days following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Today, both the Mayor of Loures, Ricardo Leão (PS), and the Mayor of Odivelas, Hugo Martins (PS), emphasized the infrastructure’s importance for mobility in these municipalities and the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.
“This process is vital for Loures. The municipality has over 200,000 residents, and with its densely populated eastern zone and the northern area lacking heavy transport options, this northern area has long awaited the metro’s expansion,” stated Ricardo Leão.
The Mayor of Odivelas highlighted the benefits for the municipality concerning mobility and the environment.
“With the metro’s arrival in the Infantado area [Loures], passengers will be collected upstream, alleviating parking pressure, and reducing carbon dioxide and gas emissions into the atmosphere. Hence, this project is crucial for Odivelas,” said the mayor.
Funding for Lisbon’s Violet Line Metro, initially anticipated to come from the Recovery and Resilience Plan funds, will now be sourced from the European Investment Bank, State Budget, and Environmental Fund.
The Violet Line will extend 11.5 km and feature 17 stations: nine in Loures (serving the parishes of Loures, Santo António dos Cavaleiros, and Frielas, spanning about 6.4 kilometers) and eight in Odivelas (serving the parishes of Póvoa de Santo Adrião and Olival de Basto, Odivelas, Ramada, and Caneças), with a total extension of approximately 5.1 kilometers.
The stations will vary in design, with 12 at surface level, three underground, and two in trench.
According to forecasts by the Lisbon Metro, the Violet Line is expected to attract 9.5 million passengers in its first year and help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 4,200 tonnes, preventing 12,800 vehicles from entering Lisbon daily.
