Rio averts ‘calamity’ as transport link finally opens

RIO DE JANEIRO’S long-awaited 10-mile metro extension towards the Olympic Park was finally opened yesterday, with less than a week before the Games begin.

Line 4, which links Ipanema to the edge of Barra da Tijuca, close to where many of the venues are, was an essential part of the transport strategy for Rio 2016.

But after repeated delays and a state of “calamity” declared with Rio de Janeiro’s state finances, the project needed an extra 989million Brazilian reals (£160million) from the government to be finished on time.

Michel Temer, Brazil’s interim president, inaugurated the line, which has six new stations, yesterday.

“The Olympics in Rio generated works that leave an immeasurable legacy for the population of Rio,” Mr Temer said. “The Olympics constructed the pretext for the improvement of the whole of Rio de Janeiro.”

The metro work was among the legacy projects set to be investigated by an inquiry launched by Rio’s council into Olympic contracts, but which has since stalled. Alleged evidence seized from contractor Odebrecht as part of the Car Wash anti-corruption investigation reportedly showed a bribe of 2.5 million reals paid to former Rio governor, Sergio Cabral, over the extension. Cabral has denied any involvement.

Mr Termer said the construction of the transport link had created 30,000 jobs and involved 340 companies.