The most awaited subway line in Bucharest, blocked in approvals until 2027. When the works could be ready, in the best case scenario
The work on the Heroes – University – Piața Iancului section of Magistrala 5, the most anticipated subway extension in Bucharest, will not start earlier than 2028. In a response sent to the “Truth” request, Metrorex representatives reveal that the design has been completed, but obtaining the mandatory approvals will take until the end of 2027, and the tender for the works cannot be launched until after that. With the execution estimated at 7 years, the section that would directly connect the western neighborhoods with the city center could only be ready by 2035.
The welcome news from Metrorex is that the actual design stage for the Heroes (PS Opera) – University – Piața Iancului section of Highway 5 has been completed. The bad news is that the road to the first works remains long.
Design, done. The approvals, only in 2027
The company that manages the Bucharest metro states that, at present, the documentation necessary to obtain two essential approvals is being drawn up: the Zonal Urban Plan, scheduled to be completed in July 2027, and the Environmental Agreement, scheduled for December 2027. Only after the issuance of both notices will the Technical Documentation for the Construction Authorization be drawn up, and the tender for the actual works will not be launched until later obtaining the Building Authorization.
“The design stage related to the project Magistrala 5. Drumul Taberei – Pantelimon. Section of Heroes (PS Opera) – University – Piața Iancului has been completed. At this moment, the documentation for obtaining the necessary approvals for the Zonal Urban Plan and Environmental Agreement phase, scheduled to be completed in July 2027 and December 2027 respectively, is being prepared. These are necessary for the preparation of the Technical Documentation for Construction Authorization”, the representatives of Metrorex sent to “Adevărul”.
7 years of works. Completion by 2035
According to the Feasibility Study, the execution of the works has a duration of 84 months, i.e. 7 years. If the tender is launched in 2028 and the contract is signed quickly, the completion of the section would be placed, in the most optimistic scenario, sometime in 2035-2036.
The deadlines kept shifting over time and against the people of Bucharest. In 2024, the Metrorex management estimated that the tender for execution works would be launched in the summer of 2025, the contract signed in May 2026, and the section completed in 2033. In October 2025, the general director Mariana Miclăuș already announced a new delay: the launch of the tenders was to take place between June 2027 and May 2028, with completion in 2034. The answer sent now “The Truth” confirms that obtaining the approvals will stretch until the end of 2027, without giving a concrete date for the launch of the tender.
Six new stations through the center of the Capital
The Heroes – Piața Iancului section will be approximately 5.2 km long and will include six underground stations: Faculty of Law, Cișmigiu, University (correspondence with M2), Calea Moșilor (correspondence with the future M7), Traian and Piața Iancului (correspondence with M1). The route follows the backbone of the Capital: from Piața Operei, on Mihail Kogălniceanu Boulevard and Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, through Universității Square, on Carol I Boulevard, Pache Protopopescu Boulevard, to Iancului Street.
Once completed, the section will provide a direct link between the west of the city and the center, eliminating the need for two metro interchanges. Today, a traveler from Drumul Taberei who wants to reach the University has to change the metro at Eroilor and again at Piața Unirii, a route of over 35 minutes. When the M5 is complete, the same journey will take around 15 minutes.
Financing from European funds
Metrorex specifies that the sources of financing considered are external non-reimbursable funds within a future European program, the state budget and other legally established sources. The company does not provide details about the total value of the investment, nor about the targeted European program, although previously circulated estimates spoke of an investment of approximately 750 million euros without VAT.
The design and technical assistance contract for this section had been signed in October 2021 with the 3TI Progetti Italia – Ingegneria Integrata SpA Association and partners, for a value of almost 40 million lei without VAT, with a contract duration of 60 months.
The M5 Drumul Taberei metro highway was inaugurated in 2020, 10 years after the start of the works.
