Near the Akademmistechko metro station in Kyiv, they plan to build a large shopping and entertainment center and reconstruct the underground passages - the work, according to the order of the Kyiv City State Administration, should continue in 2025–2027. The city authorities assure that the functional purpose of the station will not change, but transport experts and public activists have already expressed sharp criticism of the project, writes .
Experts draw attention to several serious problems. According to Oleksandr Grechko from the NGO "Passengers of Kyiv", the project does not take into account the interests of passengers and risks worsening travel conditions: "Such shopping centers are built near key nodes for the sake of profits. This creates close proximity, risks of fires or evacuation, like at the "Heroes of the Dnieper" station," he noted and compared the situation with the unfinished shopping center near the "Lisova" metro station, which turned the neighborhood into a neglected area.
Experts also warn about the transport consequences: the project currently does not specify where buses will stop, how the entrance and parking for visitors to the shopping center and residents will be organized, so there is a risk of traffic jams and a "collapse" of traffic, especially for residents of the western suburbs - Irpin and Bucha - who use the interchange.
A separate complaint is the lack of solutions for barrier-free access. The project does not provide elevators or lifts for people with disabilities and low-mobility groups, activists emphasize, which is why access to the station and movement in underground passages may become a problem for some passengers.
What experts suggest: include a bus station within the shopping mall, build an underground parking lot with direct access to the metro, and ensure barrier-free access in the underpasses. Without these changes, they warn, the project could create more problems than benefits.
The Kyiv City State Administration noted in a comment that urban planning conditions and restrictions on the construction of the complex were issued to the Grotto company back in 2011. The Kyiv Metro confirmed that the exact location of the exits and the organization of the crossings will be determined by the project documentation.
The deadline for completion — until 2027 — means lengthy construction work near one of the city's key transport hubs. Because of this, residents and experts expect more detailed design documentation, with clarifications on traffic management, fire safety measures, and inclusive solutions.
The construction of a large shopping mall next to the metro raises the question of the balance between investments and transport accessibility - and forces authorities to prove that the project provides a sustainable solution to the problems of passenger flow, barrier-free access, and safety in one of the busiest areas of Kyiv.
