President Kavelashvili awards Orders of Honour to nine Tbilisi Transport Company employees

Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili has presented state awards — Orders of Honour — to nine employees of Tbilisi Transport Company during an event marking the 60th anniversary of the Tbilisi Metro.

In his address, Kavelashvili described the metro as the capital’s main mode of transport, which for six decades has connected different parts of the city and ensured the safe movement of citizens.

“Metro is not just transport, it is the pulse of the capital,” he said, noting its role in reducing traffic congestion, saving time for residents, improving environmental conditions and supporting Tbilisi’s economic and social development.

The President thanked the 2,800 employees who ensure the metro’s daily, uninterrupted and safe operation, including drivers, engineers, dispatchers and technical staff. He paid special tribute to veteran workers who, he said, had devoted much of their lives to the development of the metro.

Kavelashvili also thanked Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze for efforts to develop the metro and public transport system, saying these had already had a positive impact on city life.

The Orders of Honour were awarded for special contributions to economic development to the following employees:

1. Shakro Khvedelidze - a compressor operator at the Gldani electric depot

2. Geno Mshvenieradze - a duty electrician in the power supply service

3. Aleksi Gabinashvili - an electrician in the signalling and communications service

4. Jumber Shaduri - an electromechanic in the power supply service

5. Galina Shkatova - a technician in the technical department of the Gldani depot

6. Akaki Macharashvili - a team leader at the Gldani depot

7. Givi Ghambashidze - a fitter at the Gldani depot

8. Guram Gachechiladze - a driver in the transport service

9. Aleksandre Bibilashvili - chief engineer at the electric rolling stock repair plant

The awards were granted on the joint nomination of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.