The Brussels regional government is expected to approve a request for additional funding for Metro line 3 – which has been delayed several times due to difficulties with construction – from the Federal Government.
The federal contribution for Brussels' metro currently stands at €50 million a year between 2015 and 2024 – €500 million in total. The money comes from the federal Beliris fund, for financing projects with national impact, Bruzz reports.
However, the amounts allocated no longer meet the challenges of financing the vast project due to inflation, the region's debt ratio and rising interest charges, said Brussels Finance Minister Sven Gatz. For additional funding, Gatz is now looking at the savings of the Beliris fund: money for projects that have not yet been implemented, L'Echo reports. It would amount to €450 million.
On Thursday, the Brussels Council of Ministers is expected to approve the mandate for Minister-President Rudi Vervoort, Finance Minister Sven Gatz and Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt to negotiate with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Beliris Minister Karine Lalieux for additional Beliris funds for the metro project.
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However, any additional funding coming from the Federal Government would increase the debt burden at the federal level, meaning the decision would not be self-evident. The spending for Metro 3 is under pressure and is already budgeted at €2.6 million – not taking into account the complications at the Palais du Midi construction site.
Due to technical difficulties, the Besix-Jan Denul-Francqui consortium stopped digging a metro tunnel as early as mid-2021 and pushed forward an additional cost of €170 million and an eight-year delay.
