Red line does not advance due to lack of inspection visa

The expansion of the red line in Lisbon is delayed due to the lack of prior approval from the Court of Auditors for the contract overseeing the works. Cristina Vaz Tomé, president of the Lisbon Metro, explained in parliament that the approval request was made in March 2024 but has not yet been granted. The Court raised concerns about the project's timeline, which is set to extend beyond the deadline established by the Council of Ministers. The Metro is working on a new resolution to extend the spending timeline. The project, valued at 405 million euros, has faced delays, with the president noting that two years have been lost waiting for the Court's approval. The red line expansion is now dependent on securing alternative funding sources, including potential loans from the European Investment Bank. The completion date is now uncertain, with expectations set for late 2030.