Budapest metro 4 tunnel drilling dangerous and illegal, MP says

Drilling the tunnels of Budapest's fourth metro line is taking place without the necessary permits and poses an increasing danger to residents, an MP said on Tuesday. Bence Retvari, a Christian Democrat, told a news conference that drilling under apartment blocks on the Buda side of the capital was dangerous because the authorities had not yet examined the possible effects of the drilling on buildings over its pathway.

He said that if any buildings were damaged during the illegal drilling, residents would bear the brunt of the consequences because it would not be clear in a possible future court action who should bear responsibility for the damage.

Retvari noted other hazards such as possible damage to newly laid roads posed by lorries transporting earth away from the drilling sites and air pollution.

Inspectors working at the site for the National Transport Authority told MTI earlier that permission had been granted for continuing drilling for another 10 metres from Gellert Square.

The authority confirmed, however, that data presented in a report by DBR Metro Project showed that a subcontractor had continued work on the tunnel and had passed the halted section and started work on laying tracks without permission from the authority. It added that a state investigation into the breach is under way.

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