Residents of Athens’ Kypseli neighborhood are bringing their concerns over alleged building damage linked to Metro Line 4 construction before the Athens City Council, calling for immediate inspections, compensation, and greater transparency as reports of cracks in residential buildings continue to mount.
A citizens’ initiative representing affected residents urged supporters to attend Wednesday’s City Council meeting at Athens City Hall, where members planned to present what they describe as a growing public safety issue. The group claims visible cracks have appeared in more than 15 buildings near the route of the Metro tunnel boring machine, although that figure has not been independently confirmed by authorities.
Residents have circulated photographs showing cracks in walls and ceilings, while some homeowners report that doors and windows no longer close properly. The exact cause of the damage has not been established through official engineering findings.
Kypseli residents call for inspections and compensation
In a statement ahead of the council meeting, the initiative said it was demanding free structural and geotechnical inspections of affected buildings, full restoration of any verified damage, compensation for property owners, and legal assistance from the Municipality of Athens.
The group is also calling for a review of the tunnel boring machine’s route in areas where it believes ground conditions pose a greater risk.
“We will not remain spectators,” the initiative said in its public appeal, urging residents to attend the meeting and press local officials to address their concerns.
Concerns grow over Athens Metro Line 4 construction
Metro Line 4 is one of Greece’s largest infrastructure projects and is expected to significantly expand Athens’ metro network, linking densely populated neighborhoods with the city center.
The latest complaints come several months after another incident in Kypseli drew national attention, when excavation slurry surfaced during tunneling operations. At the time, Elliniko Metro said the material had escaped through an old sewer network and maintained that the incident did not pose a long-term safety risk.
As tunneling continues beneath central Athens, residents say they want assurances that nearby buildings are being properly monitored and that any damage will be promptly investigated and addressed.
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