“As of today, July 9th, almost two months after the date of the addition to the compensation agreement, Metropolitano de Lisboa has not honoured its commitment and responsibilities and has not yet paid any compensation to the affected residents”, stated Carla Martins, representing a group of residents of Travessa do Pasteleiro, in the parish of Estrela.

The resident spoke at the meeting of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, during the period of intervention open to the public, asking municipal deputies to “act to resolve, urgently, this shameful situation” related to the works of the Metropolitano de Lisboa, namely the creation of the Circular Line, which will connect Rato station to Cais do Sodré.

Lusa agency questioned the company Metropolitano de Lisboa (ML) about the failures in paying compensation to residents and is still awaiting a response.

To municipal deputies, Carla Martins mentioned that, at the beginning of 2023, and for a scheduled period of 16 months, residents from no. 26 to no. 34 of Travessa do Pasteleiro had to vacate their homes, for security reasons, and a compensation agreement was established with Metropolitano for the losses caused.

“Through this agreement, the company was obliged to return the properties in the same conditions in which it received them until May 16, 2024. In the event of non-return due to a cause attributable to the company, it would be obliged to pay, for each day of delay, an additional amount of compensation”, indicated the resident, noting that, on March 19, it was assured that the work would be carried out “as expected”.

However, on May 11, “a few days before” the scheduled return date, the company reported “an estimated delay of four and a half months”, reported the resident.

Carla Martins said that ML informed residents that, “for technical reasons related to the ongoing excavation work at Santos station, it is necessary to extend the period of temporary occupation until September 30, 2024”, and that, for this reason, it would proceed with the payment of the additional compensation amount in accordance with the agreement concluded, by signing the corresponding addendum, which was sent on May 15th.

Considering the case “quite serious and even scandalous”, the resident accused the public company ML of “abuse of power, disregard and disrespect for citizens”.

“Residents, in addition to being forced to be out of their homes for more than a year and a half, are still paying out of their pocket the expenses resulting from delays in returning the units”, reinforced Carla Martins, demanding immediate payment of the compensation due and, additionally, compensation for moral damages.

On May 13, in a written response to Lusa, ML indicated that the structural reinforcement work on the buildings located in Travessa do Pasteleiro, supported by the transport company, “is completed”, but, “for technical reasons”, the properties “ cannot yet be used permanently”, extending the period of occupation “until September 30, 2024”.

The need for temporary occupation of the properties, according to the company, arose after “in-depth technical inspections” in the parish of Estrela, Travessa do Pasteleiro and Avenida D. Carlos I, in a total of 32 units.

In addition to the works, the costs borne by the public transport company include compensation to landlords, residents and owners and “the relocation of residents for the period of occupation”.

With a total planned investment of 331.4 million euros, the Circular Line will connect the Rato station to Cais do Sodré, in an extension of another two kilometers of network, scheduled to open in 2025.