Georgian PM hails Tbilisi’s transformation under Mayor Kaladze as new tunnel opens

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday hailed the transformation of Tbilisi over the past eight years, crediting the capital’s progress to Mayor Kakha Kaladze’s leadership.

Speaking at the opening of a new tunnel connecting University and Kavtaradze streets, Kobakhidze described the capital as “much more developed, greener, and more beautiful” than in previous years.

“If we recall Tbilisi eight years ago and look at what our capital is like today, there is a huge difference,”Kobakhidze claimed. “First of all, this is the merit of the mayor of the capital.”

The new tunnel is the latest in a series of infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving urban connectivity, the Tbilisi City Hall said. 

Kobakhidze pointed to the recently inaugurated Bagebi Bridge as another example of the city’s “rapid development.”

“These projects make moving around the city more comfortable for residents and also contribute to the development of public spaces,” he said.

The PM further announced that an “ambitious four-year development plan” for the capital was in preparation. “I am sure that in four years our capital will be even more developed, and many such projects will be added,” he said, expressing confidence in Kaladze’s vision for the city’s future.

Kobakhidze concluded by thanking all those involved in the tunnel’s construction and reiterated his appreciation for the mayor’s role in the capital’s “ongoing transformation.”