On Tuesday, the opposition gave the green light in parliament to a PS resolution to build a high-speed line from Lisbon to Porto. The connection between Cidade Invicta and Soure in the Coimbra region alone, referring to the first two sections of the so-called TGV, is estimated at 3.550 billion euros, 600 million more than expected, according to information published on Tuesday by the online newspaper agency Eco.
An international tender for the construction of the first section of the so-called TGV between Porto and Oia in the Aveiro region is expected to be launched next week, Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Tuesday. The cost of the site in question is estimated at 1.950 billion euros. If the project were not launched now, the country would lose about 729 million euros of European funds.
It is worth noting that the expected cost of the first phase of the high-speed line between Porto and Sure is more than 3.5 billion euros. At the time of the project’s presentation in September 2022, its estimated cost was 2.950 billion euros.
Inflation, which has led to an increase in the amount of raw materials needed for this work, is the reason given by the manager for the increase in costs.
During parliamentary debates on Tuesday, the SDP confirmed that it will vote in favor of the PS resolution on the high-speed road project. While the opposition has generally made the project viable, it has not spared criticism of delays in its launch.
The line between Porto and Lisbon is due to be fully completed after 2030 and will provide a connection in an hour and fifteen minutes, compared to the current two hours and 49 minutes.