Navracsics: Metro 3 development serves not only Budapest residents

The metro development project is being carried out in cooperation between the Hungarian government, the capital and the European Union, Tibor Navracsics noted. Around two-thirds of the project’s costs have been financed by the EU, he added.

Navracsics said Budapest was an important hub in central Europe in terms of culture and infrastructure, so the EU resources were being put in good use.

Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony said the project’s completion was welcome news for both Budapest and the whole of Hungary. He added that all M3 metro stations will have disabled access and they will be also safer and more attractive as a result of the revamp which will be fully completed by May.

Future transport development plans in Budapest include the modernisation of tramlines connected to the route of the M3, with an allocation of 105 billion forints (EUR 260m), and the further development of the area around the Nyugati railway station, he said.

EU funding for the M3 development project came to 172.7 billion forints (EUR 432m), state co-financing was 44.8 billion, while the municipal council contributed 7.1 billion forints.

M3 trains will not stop at the Nagyvarad Square or Lehel Square stations until the full project is completed in May.