A new University Metro station has opened in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi, better connecting residents living in the city.

Located in Tbilisi’s Saburtalo district, near Tbilisi State University’s Maglivi X building on University street, the new station will continue from the Vazha-Pshavela station.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashili congratulated the citizens of Tbilisi on the opening of the the 23rd station of Tbilisi Metro.

I hope the University Metro station will become an example of how urban transport is possible to be developed, which is so important for Tbilisi inhabitants as well as for the guests of the city,” said Kvirikashvili.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashili congratulated the citizens of Tbilisi on the opening of the the 23rd station of Tbilisi Metro. Photo by the PM's press office.

Kvirikashvili says the modernisation of Tbilisi Metro’s wagons has been continuing. So far 44 wagons have already been modernised. Also, three metro stations have been renovated and three more are under renovation as of today.

Efforts to extend the Saburtalo line and construct the new station briefly occurred several times in the past 21 years but the project was never finished.

The $84 million GEL (about 33.88m/€28.74m*) project was mostly funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Located in Tbilisi’s Saburtalo district, near Tbilisi State University’s Maglivi X building on University street, the new station will continue from the Vazha-Pshavela station. Photo by the PM's press office.

Construction work was carried out by the Spanish construction company Kobra Assigna, which restored 2.6km of already existing tunnels on the new line. In addition, underground and above-ground buildings were also constructed and a new subway entrance opened for the Vazha Pshavela station.

About 2,000 people were employed at the construction of the University Metro station.

Thanks to the new University Station it will be possible to serve 15,000 additional passengers daily. Photo by the PM's press office.

Tbilisi’s subway system opened in 1966. Today it consists of two lines measuring a total length of 27km and includes 23 fully operational Metro stations.

Tbilisi Metro transports about 350-400 thousand people per day. Thanks to the new University Station it will be possible to serve 15,000 additional passengers daily.

The Government of Georgia will continue the development of infrastructural projects in Georgia, promised Kvirikashvili. He said that this year there was a 37 percent growth in terms of development of infrastructural projects.

Georgian PM took the first train from new University Metro station together with Tbilisi Mayor and other officials. Photo by the PM's press office.

Last year about 970 million GEL was spent in this direction, while this year already 1,350 billion will be spent. This is about 36-37 percent growth compared to 2016,” said Kvirikashvili.

The PM said that from the second quarter of 2018 many projects will start in Georgia, which will be 90 percent growth compared to 2016.

*Currency conversions reflect National Bank of Georgia values as of today.