Lisbon Metro predicts that the Red Line extension will affect “about 20 buildings”

Metropolitan de Lisbon this month began the process of expropriation, administrative easements and temporary occupations to complete the extension of the Red Line from San Sebastian to Alcantara, affecting “about 20 buildings,” the company said on Tuesday.

“There are approximately 20 buildings involved at this stage and all requirements set out in the law have been met. Residents/owners of the properties were informed in a letter of the conditions proposed by the Metropolitano de Lisbon and the corresponding “deadlines”. process,” the company indicated in a written response to the Lusa agency.

As part of the project to extend the Red Line from San Sebastian to Alcantara, Metropolitano began the process of expropriation, administrative easements and temporary occupations on September 1, and contacts are currently taking place between the company and all interested parties. sides.

“Due to the need to occupy some buildings affected by the project, Metropolitano de Lisboa will pay compensation to all interested parties, namely owners, tenants and companies,” the public transport company said.

Without specifying the value, Metropolitano assured that compensation would be made “in accordance with what is provided by law and on the basis of the value determined by independent appraisers appointed by the Lisbon Court of Appeal, giving priority to the conclusion of agreements with the parties concerned.”

While noting that it would respect “as far as possible” all existing buildings, the company said that, however, “some buildings located in the vicinity of Baluarte do Livramento and the future Alcantara station will have to be demolished.”

“All of these situations will be carefully considered and planned in advance to try to minimize the impact on the population,” he said.

Among the buildings affected is the property of the Lisbon City Council, namely the Calçada do Livramento, with the Metropolitano having already notified the municipality of the Declaration of Public Utility, which was published on July 26 this year.

In response to Lusa, Lisbon City Council said that Metropolitano “plans to demolish 11 municipal properties” where families live and where Casa de Goa is based.

Councilors of Cidadaãos Por Lisboa (elected by the PS/Livre coalition) asked the Lisbon City Council about the situation of families living in the Calçada do Livramento, a municipal building where the Casa de Goa is also located, in the Palacio das Necessidades area, in the parish of Estrela, stating, that “these residents are left without clarification or any concrete information about the impact that the extension of the Red Line to Alcantara will have on their homes and places of residence, as well as on solutions that guarantee their right to housing.”

The Luse Chamber said that Metropolitano, as the expropriating entity, has the responsibility “to ensure the payment of compensation/relocation/appropriation of new areas to all those who have the status of interested parties, be they residential tenants or commercial tenants.” “

“In this process, the municipality takes on the role of the expropriated person, without making any contribution to the situation in question. However, despite the absence of any liability, the municipality monitors the tenants affected by the proceedings with the Lisbon Metropolitan, with the aim of protecting the rights of these families,” the chamber said.

The municipality said that in the case of the relocation of Lisbon City Council’s assets, “six households have been identified”, stressing that the expropriating entity must provide alternatives to relocation or new housing through an award of compensation.

According to Metropolitano, the implementation of the activities in Baluarte do Livramento is coordinated with the Lisbon City Council through a “close and productive dialogue” between the company and the municipality, as well as with all stakeholders who will benefit from the extension of the agreement. Red line.

At stake is the extension of the Lisbon metro’s Red Line between San Sebastian and Alcantara, a project whose budget in November 2020 was €304 million, but which was revised in December 2022 to €405.4 million as part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. The construction of four new stations is planned between 2021 and 2026: Amoreiras, Campo de Ourique, Infante Santo and Alcantara.