Contract signed for design and construction of new tram line, Tbilisi Mayor

A contract for the design and construction of a new tram line in Tbilisi was officially signed at the Tbilisi City Assembly. 

The agreement was signed by Giorgi Sharkov, Director General of Tbilisi Transport Company, and Halit Emre Yilmaz, representing the EYE joint venture - Emre Ray, Yüksel and Erk.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, City assembly Chairman Zurab Abashidze, Deputy Mayor Giorgi Tkemaladze, Turkish Ambassador to Georgia Mustafa Türker Ari and other invited guests attended the signing ceremony.

Speaking at the event, Kaladze thanked the Georgian Dream political team and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for their support for the tram project.

“Today is truly a special day. I remember the reaction when I first announced the construction of a tram line. There was great excitement, but also a natural question: ‘When will this idea become a reality?’ Today, we are answering that question and moving from an idea to concrete action,” Kaladze said.

He said the return of trams would help create a modern transport system for the capital.

“We are not bringing the tram back in order to return to the past. We are bringing it back to create the transport system of the future for Tbilisi,” the mayor said.

According to Kaladze, the project will consist of three stages - preparation of the conceptual design, preparation of the detailed design and construction works.

The combined duration of the three stages is expected to be 36 months. Taking into account all related procedures, the project is planned to be completed within the next four years, according to the mayor.

Kaladze said the first tram line alone would not solve all of Tbilisi’s transport problems, but described it as the beginning of a modern tram network and a new stage in the capital’s transport system.

The planned tram line will start near the area connecting the 3rd and 4th microdistricts of Didi Dighomi and run via David Aghmashenebeli Alley and the Dighomi Massif to the area around Didube Metro Station.

The line is intended to connect the Didi Digomi settlement with the metro network, providing faster access to central Tbilisi.

The tram line is expected to be approximately 7.5 kilometers long and include 11 stops.

The project has a budget of GEL 287.65 million.