Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze revealed at today’s city government session that a new project will see the extension of the Akhmeteli Theatre and Varketili metro stations. The expansion will involve adding one station in both directions along the first metro line.
Kaladze explained that these enhancements will significantly reduce total public transport journey times by approximately 576 hours, offering a valuable opportunity to ease congestion on the network.
“I would like to update you on the first line of the metro. A new project is underway at both the Akhmeteli Theatre and Varketili stations, which will enable us to extend the line by one station in each direction. This development is crucial,” he stated.
Regarding the extension towards Varketili, the line will grow by 1,200 metres. The new station is expected to serve around 4,500 passengers during the morning peak.
“For example, the daily minimum passenger flow towards Hualing and Varketili currently stands at 66,000, with many commuters set to benefit from the new station, distributing passenger loads more evenly. The addition will also help reduce total journey times by roughly 576 hours, further alleviating network pressure.
In the Gldani direction, the line will be extended by 1,100 metres. During morning rush hour, the new station is projected to attract approximately 5,500 passengers.
Studies indicate that near the Akhmeteli Theatre, the number of passengers transferring between lines would decrease by approximately 4,460 during peak times, while the overall passenger flow from Gldani is expected to rise by around 11,000. Importantly, both station projects will notably cut the number of passengers needing to change trains twice to reach Station Square, reducing total travel time by nearly 20 minutes,” Kaladze explained.
He further noted that the project will enhance pedestrian access and overall connectivity, transforming the areas surrounding the stations into hubs of activity and boosting local economic prospects.
“By relieving traffic, we will reduce disruptions caused by high passenger flows both in the vicinity and at busy public transport stops,” Kaladze concluded.
