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Asian Development Bank

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Tbilisi’s Metro is being fully rehabilitated and upgraded, to make public transport a more attractive option for Georgians and help reduce emissions from the transport sector.

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, aims to address the safety, reliability and efficiency concerns of its metro through focusing on upgrading its key components such as cabling, escalators, ventilation system and water drainage pumps. Tbilisi Metro currently consists of 22 stations and two lines totaling 27.1 km. Over the years the lack of upgrades and improvements left the metro worn out and unreliable.

38%
DECREASE IN ENERGY USAGE

The modernization project will replace power transmission cabling, rehabilitate the ventilation system, and develop a waste management plan for the operation and maintenance of Tbilisi Metro. The new cables will be flame retardant while the new ventilation fans will improve air flow in metro tunnels improving air quality and regulating temperature.

By rehabilitating and upgrading the Tbilisi Metro, the city hopes that by 2021 it will increase metro passenger trips by 19% and reduce energy usage.

ADB provided a loan of $14.3 million for the project.

Tbilisi Metro first opened in 1966 and became the fourth metro system in the former Soviet Union (photo by ADB).

The Challenge

Despite continued efforts to perform maintenance, the Tbilisi Metro is in need of upgrading and rehabilitation to address concerns including energy efficiency, inadequate accessibility, and lack of multi-modal public transfer options at interchange stations.

Co-Benefits

Environment By rehabilitating and upgrading the Tbilisi Metro, the city hopes to reduce energy usage by 38% compared with 2016 levels.

Social The project will benefit residents, especially the elderly and disabled, by providing safer and more reliable access to the city and other activity centers