The chief executive of Rome's
transport company ATAC on Thursday refused to accept blame for
the latest disruption of the Italian capital's underground
system, and said the firm urgently needed investments from
authorities.
Rome's Metro B line was temporarily suspended on Thursday
after an overhead cable at Cavour station in the city centre
collapsed. The latest problem comes just a week after a train
jumped off the tracks and hit a wall near Anagnina station on
the Metro A line.
ATAC CEO Danilo Broggi, who is resigning, said at a news
conference that the firm had sent two letters to local
authorities highlighting the risks posed to Cavour station by
recent heavy rainfall.
"We were therefore victims and not perpetrators in this
situation," he said.
He said the company has told authorities repeatedly that it
desperately needs about 150 million euros of investments to be
able to carry out its services efficiently. He pointed out that
sum was just for urgent work and the system really needed much
more funds.
On Thursday commuters reacted angrily to the latest
disruption, invading the busy Via Monti Tiburtini and taking
local bus stops by storm.
Rome city authorities responded by opening traffic-free
zones to all vehicles in an attempt to alleviate the chaos.
The state of Rome's transport system is of particular
concern in light of the upcoming Special Jubilee of Mercy, which
opens on December 8 and is expected to draw millions of pilgrims
to Rome.
Earlier outgoing Rome transport councillor Stefano Esposito
took aim at ATAC top brass, saying they should concentrate on
making the service work rather than holding news conferences.
Broggi said on Thursday that regional authorities owed the
company at least 680 million euros, and he blamed the strained
situation on problems between political institutions.
He said he had been hired by Rome city authorities to
prevent ATAC from going bankrupt and he had achieved that. He
also said that during his time at the helm of the company he had
increased the number of work and services contracts being
offered through competitive tender.
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