en.Wedoany.com Reported - Prague has officially launched the construction of a new section of Metro Line D, connecting Olbrachtova station with the planned Nové Dvory station. The project contract is valued at over €1.2 billion and will be carried out by a Czech-German consortium comprising Subterra, Hochtief CZ, Hochtief Infrastructure, and BeMo Tunneling. The construction period is 72 months, with the new section spanning approximately 6 kilometers and featuring three stations.

The project includes a total of approximately 9.6 kilometers of tunnel boring machine (TBM) excavation, 2.6 kilometers of New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) construction, and over 100 meters of cut-and-cover section. Two TBMs from Germany's Herrenknecht AG, specifically designed for the geological conditions of this project, are scheduled for delivery next year, with each requiring about three months for assembly. A total of 13 intervention zones will be established in the construction area, seven of which will remain active long-term. The largest construction site, located in Nové Dvory, covers nearly 4 hectares and will serve as the main base for excavating stations, technical tunnels, and future connections to other lines.

Initial works have already begun in the Nové Dvory area, with contractors preparing the tunnel entrances. The first underground excavation is planned for late August. Among the three stations, Nové Dvory will be the deepest, with platforms located 33 meters underground; Nemocnice Krč station will be approximately 17 meters deep; and Nádraží Krč station will be at ground level. Upon completion, public transport company DPP expects the first operational section of Line D (from Pankrác to Nové Dvory) to enter service in the second half of 2032.

The total corridor of Prague Metro Line D is approximately 10.6 kilometers long and will include 10 stations. The project is being implemented in three phases: Phase 1 covers the section from Pankrác to Nové Dvory, 4.6 kilometers long with 5 stations; Phase 2 extends the line to Písnice, 3.8 kilometers long, including 3 stations and a new depot; Phase 3 extends from Pankrác to Náměstí Míru, adding 2.7 kilometers and 2 stations. Once completed, the new line is expected to carry approximately 45 million passengers annually. Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda stated that a large city must plan ahead, and Line D demonstrates that the city is not stagnating. Deputy Mayor for Transport Jaromír Beránek noted that Line D is not just a rapid connection but also the foundation for building modern neighborhoods—including housing, services, and green spaces—around high-capacity public transit.