Construction of a tram line is beginning in Tbilisi. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze made the statement at a ceremony marking the signing of a contract for the design and construction of the tram line.

According to Kaladze, the tram line will connect the Didi Dighomi district with Didube Metro Station.

He said the project is expected to be completed within the next four years.

“Today is truly a special day for our capital, as the Tbilisi Transport Company and the Turkish company joint venture ‘Ivais’ are signing a contract for the design and construction of a tram line in Tbilisi. I remember when I first announced the return of trams and the huge response it received from society. There was great joy, but there was also a very natural question: when will this idea become a reality? Today, we are answering that question — we are moving from an idea and a promise to concrete action.

This is especially important to me and my colleagues, because major infrastructure projects cannot be implemented with a single announcement. They require planning, financial resources, the involvement of professionals, time and, most importantly, the political will to see the work that has been started through to completion. Therefore, first of all, I would like to thank our political team — Georgian Dream — as well as our Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for their support and assistance.

The return of trams has symbolic significance for Tbilisi. It represents the return of a part of the city’s culture that was part of the everyday life of older generations. However, we do not intend to return to the past. We are bringing back the tram in order to create a transportation system of the future for Tbilisi.

Our transport policy, which we began implementing in 2017, serves precisely this goal — to make travel around the city faster, more comfortable, safer and accessible to everyone. Streets should serve pedestrians, public transport passengers, users of environmentally friendly transport and motorists equally.

We want people to choose public transport not because they have no other option, but because it is fast, comfortable and reliable. The tram will become another vital part of this system.

The tram line will connect Didi Dighomi with Didube Metro Station. The project consists of three stages — preparation of the conceptual design, detailed design and construction works. The total implementation period for all three stages is 36 months, while taking all related procedures into account, the project is expected to be completed within the next four years,” Kakha Kaladze said.