The Nationalist Party is planning a €2.3 billion new metro system over 20 years. This proposal should be lauded once many other factors are taken into consideration. These can also probably be surmounted with due studies and research, which can commence shortly.

In contrast with Rome, underground Malta is not so well known. Discoveries of old underground structures featuring our history and prehistory, notably underground Knights and Aragonese fortifications, could easily be met on routes linking towns to the capital, which remains our centre of administration, traditional and modern businesses, hotels, and residences.

We could also meet an unsuspected second major hypogeum along proposed routes, apart from Punic and Roman as well as Knights’ tomb complexes, not to mention forgotten water systems. We therefore must conduct extensive studies of underground Malta, possibly using ground penetrating and probing systems (GPS) before embarking on such a big and expensive project inadequately prepared.

The PN may already have this in mind, working with Heritage Malta and the University’s Department of Archaeology. Foreign experts will surely be called in for such an ambitious project.

If, through this modern means of mass passenger transport, road traffic is reduced from the present 300,000 vehicles to below, say 200,000, it would be an achievement.