Turin Metro 1 Extension: Piedmont Region allocates 8 million euros, but 70 million more needed

The Piedmont Region is injecting 8 million euros to help restart the stalled extension of Turin's Metro Line 1 towards Cascine Vica. Although over 75% of the underground work is complete, the project remains halted due to a significant funding gap. Regional officials are now focused on securing the remaining 70 million euros needed to finish the line, while also addressing the immediate impact of the ongoing construction sites.

Regional Infrastructure Councilor Enrico Bussalino stated that the common goal is to "get a strategic work for the entire Turin metropolitan area back underway as soon as possible." The region plans to present the need for the 70 million euros to the national government. In the interim, the 8.5 million euros, allocated by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, will be used for site cleanup. "This is money we can immediately dedicate to tidying up the surface areas," Bussalino explained. "It will be used to dispose of excavation soil, remove gantry cranes, and reduce the impact of the construction sites on Rivoli and Collegno." This action aims to provide a concrete signal to citizens and businesses affected by the delays.

However, the timeline for completion remains challenging. Even if the 70 million euros are approved by the Ministry, technical processes such as site assessment, redesign, new tendering, and actual construction will take at least four and a half years. This pushes the projected inauguration to mid-2031. The delays are attributed to the combined effects of the financial difficulties faced by Italiana Costruzioni and the rising costs of raw materials, which have significantly increased the expenses for civil engineering works.