Tehran, Aug 25, IRNA -- Tehran Mayor Mohammad Hossein Malekmadani stressed here Sunday the need to use foreign resources for expansion of Tehran Metro, adding "the plans for extension of Metro will be put to international tender in the near future."

Speaking at a ceremony marking the inauguration of the first etro terminal and repair station in western Tehran, he told IRNA "expansion plans are being carried out."

He also said that the only way to reduce traffic in Tehran is to expand the Metro system.

If financial resources are provided for the Metro expansion plans, over eight more lines will be built within the next three years.

Meanwhile, Tehran residents are entangled with multitude of problems every day related to living in a mega city. Earlier in July, Deputy Head of Tehran Municipality's Traffic Department Mohammad Mehdi Khorsandnia said that traffic-related pollution is a cause of over 7,800 deaths annually.

Speaking on the threshold of World Environment Day on Wednesday, he told IRNA that everyday in Tehran 20 people, mostly elders and children die, due to complications from traffic-related pollution.

"National determination is needed to mitigate such traffic-induced environmental problems," he said.

Khorsandnia said over eight million liters of gasoline are consumed in Tehran daily which equals 20 percent of the nations' total gasoline consumption.

He added that each private automobile in Tehran transports an average of 1.3 people, a bus transport 90 people and the figure stands between 1,000-1,700 passengers for the underground railway Metro.

He said Tehran has inadequate traffic and transportation infrastructure and facilities compared to other large metropolises.

... Payvand News - 8/25/02 ... --