Work on extension of Metro A begins

Work on extending Prague’s green line or Metro line A was officially launched on Monday by the city’s Mayor Pavel Bém. The mayor deposited a symbolic figurine of St Barbora – the patron saint of architects – at the head of the new tunnel, which will join Prague’s Dejvice district with Motol in four years. The extension will stretch the subway system by six kilometres, creating four new stations: Červený vrh, Veleslavín, Petřiny and Motol. The cost of the project has been estimated at 19 billion crowns; eight of those are expected to come from European funds. City councillor Radovan Šteiner said on Monday that the project would be a major benefit, not least to those making use of Motol Hospital. The extension will probably not be the last for Metro A: five more stops have been projected for the future, leading to Prague’s international airport. City hall would like to see those completed by 2018.