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🇬🇷 Greece /Culture & Society

Athens: Loading (even more) the capital

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Opinion Sources not specified Context piece
  • The article criticizes the concentration of public services and infrastructure in Athens, despite the city's overcrowding.
  • It highlights examples like digital services and a new museum being located in or near Athens, exacerbating traffic and crowding.
  • The author questions why public facilities cannot be distributed more widely across Greece, easing pressure on the capital.

The article criticizes the continued concentration of public services and infrastructure within the Athens metropolitan area, despite the region's already strained capacity. It points out that "four million people cannot fit into the basin of Attica, with all the paraphernalia of modern life."

four million people cannot fit into the basin of Attica, with all the paraphernalia of modern life.

— AuthorDescribing the overcrowding in Athens.

While acknowledging the convenience of digital state services, the author argues that their infrastructure does not need to be physically located in Athens. An example cited is the "my1521" application from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, advertised as "You are served from everywhere," yet its service provision is still centered in Athens.

You are served from everywhere.

— Digital Service SloganSlogan for the 'my1521' application from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue.

Further examples include the "Daedalus" supercomputer and the "Pharos" AI Factory being built in Lavrio, a location expected to become congested due to its potential role in ferry transport. Additionally, the National Museum of the Greek Revolution of 1821 is planned for Gouda Park in Athens, rather than the Peloponnese, the historical center of the revolution. The author questions the necessity of placing such a significant cultural institution in an already crowded capital.

In a nearby building of the former Kaminias Hangars, the power station is being installed to supply electricity.

— Ministry of Digital GovernanceRegarding the infrastructure for the AI Factory 'Pharos'.

The author expresses concern that this new museum, like the Acropolis, will attract numerous school buses, worsening traffic congestion in Athens. The piece questions the Ministry of National Defence's strategy, asking why abandoned military camps across the country cannot be utilized for such projects instead of further burdening the capital.

The Ministry of National Defence, with scattered abandoned military camps across the country, does not have a better idea?

— AuthorQuestioning the placement of public facilities in Athens.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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