Lithuanian president calls for renewed debate on Vilnius metro
An adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda wants an updated cost-benefit analysis of building a metro in Vilnius, including its potential role in national security. Part of the project could be funded from the EU's new Competitiveness Fund.
The office of Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda is urging a fresh discussion on building a metro system in Vilnius, the country's capital. Vaidas Augustinavičius, the president's chief adviser on economic and social policy, told the radio station Žinių radijas on Tuesday that it would make sense to update the cost-benefit analysis and assess the project in a new geopolitical context.
Augustinavičius said it was worth considering whether the metro could qualify as a dual-purpose project, serving not only public transport but also national security. Underground infrastructure could provide shelter and potentially house communications networks. The adviser also suggested examining whether part of the project could be financed through the European Union's new Competitiveness Fund.
A debate of more than a decade
Discussions about the need for a metro in Vilnius have been going on for more than ten years. Supporters argue that the project would attract millions of euros in investment and help ease traffic congestion in the capital. Critics counter that Vilnius does not have a large enough population to make construction economically viable, and warn that the project could damage the city's cultural heritage.
In autumn 2018, the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament, adopted a law on metro implementation, creating conditions for private investors to undertake construction. The legislation took effect in early 2020.
