The European Commission has approved the funding of Stage III of the project for the expansion of the Sofia subway network. The project includes the subway line from Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd to Sofia Airport and the section connecting the Mladost-1 residential district to Business Park Sofia. The expansion of the subway network in Bulgaria s capital is funded under Operational Program Transport via the European Regional Development Fund

The total cost of the project amounts to nearly EUR 240 mln of which EUR 136 mln are granted under OP Transport with state-owned company Metropoliten EAD the operator of the Sofia subway as the beneficiary.

The project consists of seven new subway stations and over will provide about 300 new jobs. The subway will provide a quick connection between the neighborhoods and the central parts of the city, as well as with the Central Railway and Bus Stations, Sofia Airport and Business Park Sofia.

The construction of the subway section from Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd to Sofia Airport started in end of November while the construction of the stretch connecting Mladost-1 to Business Park Sofia is to begin in a few months time. The new subway sections will be launched in the spring of 2015.