“A rare opportunity has been created for investments in the La Anana Depo Site, the first station to be opened in the Sharon region,” is operated by a company that provides plots of land next to the Metro Depo in La Anana.
Advertising can confirm that more and more players in the market view the Metro Station as an established fact ongoing. Meanwhile, given the state’s budget holes, frequent delays and delays, and no signs of progress on the ground, some are skeptical of the possibility that the project will be realized.
However, there are some indications that the project is actually moving forward and that excavation machines will soon be appearing.
The Metro is the largest infrastructure development ever planned in Israel. It consists of three underground railway lines passing under 24 local governments in Gush Dan, with over 100 stations. Its cost is estimated at NIS 180 billion. Links to the currently under construction light rail system, consisting of red lines opened in 2023, and the green and purple lines opened in 2028-2030. The Metro should gradually operate between 2035 and 2024, but skepticism about timetables is certainly justified.
So what’s going on on the ground?
1. Land demand
Last week, a scene of the historic dimension took place when a massive fence was built in the Segura district of Petatikuva, where the Metro’s M2 Line trains are being built. The land was seized after a mandatory purchase procedure. The land owner will soon receive a payment notification.
Adv. The VP assets of NTA-Metropolitan Mass Transit Ltd., which manages the project, said last week, “I think there will be lawsuits in Segula and Rishonim. These are speculative. In such cases, if someone thinks they deserves thousands of shekels rather than dozens of meters, they can sue them.”
Forced purchase of a house
To date, mandatory purchase notifications have been sent primarily outside the city centre and are related to commercial and industrial properties. Currently, notifications are reaching the city centre and residential property. Last month, the NTA sent a forced purchase notification for 50 residential units and 45 stores to the Magen David Square area in the heart of Tel Aviv. The Allenby Street buildings, King George Street, Bethlehem Street, Hermetociot Lane and other streets will be demolished to make way for the Metro. The stations will be built at NES Lagoyim Street and Shlabim Street, where industrial buildings and 20 residential units will be forcibly purchased. 22 residential units and public buildings will be purchased forcibly at Hazon Ish Street and Kahaneman Street in Bnei Brak.
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Kanka says payment notices will soon be sent to many property owners, and the market will begin to feel the degree of mandatory purchase. In total, the reward for forced purchases reaches NIS 10 billion for approximately 200,000 orders covering 11,000 Dunhams. The 400 residential units are scheduled to be demolished.
3. Taxation will be enforced
The higher improvement collection along the subway routes, which are imposed to help pay for the project, was passed in 2022 and approved in the first part of the Metro Act, which came into effect in 2023.
The law says that tax purposes will begin flowing to the state next year as the date for determining tax purposes is after the plan is approved. They were able to establish the project as complete Fait compri.
4. Regulations and Structure
As far as regulations and planning are concerned, Metro is already Fait compri. The statutory plan is complete and despite many objections politicians under pressure, the three lines have been approved by the government.
Additionally, the Metro Act was passed, empowering companies to run the projects to eliminate obstacles. The NTA itself is undergoing a major restructuring. VPs are appointed, each responsible for one of the Metrolines and is responsible for the Associate CEO, who is supposed to coordinate the work.
This week, after a long delay, Uzi Tsuhaki has been appointed head of the Metro authorities. Government agencies are intended to lead the project, with the NTA in the lower ranks. Itzhaki was once the chairman of the Israeli Port Company.
Another obstacle removed is the opposition of Transport Minister Mirilegev to the project, unless the railway lines to Kiryatshemona and Ayrat have budgeted. After the budget is allocated to the Line’s plan, she becomes a supporter of the project and boasts publicly about it.
5. Bid disclosure
In the coming months, the NTA will begin preparing for the clearing of ground in various regions, within the sites of the depots in Rishonim and Segura. In the third quarter of next year, the tenders will be published to perform a piece called “Infra 1,” which includes excavation of a double tunnel 150 km long and preparation of reinforced concrete boxes for more than 100 stations. These works are gradually executed, but if the bid goes out on time, the NTA will have a lot of work done.
“Glove” recently reported that the company was caught up in a conflict with the National Planning Commission regarding the number of exits from the station. The NTA has planned one exit for most of the station, but the National Planning Commission is calling for more in ways that could delay the publication of plans and bids.
An industry source told Globes: “The government must make it clear to the NTA that there are no more excuses. If after all changes, if they are not successful in moving the project forward on a quick schedule, it would be better to move it to another company or split it between several companies.
Published by Globes, Israel Business News – En.globes.co.il – March 27, 2025.
©Copyright of Globals Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2025.
