Driving the news:
Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani, senior municipal officials, and Armenian, Assyrian, and Chaldean Christian representatives in Iran’s Parliament attended the inauguration ceremony. The station has now become fully operational for public use.
Why it matters:
The opening of the station comes as Tehran accelerates efforts to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, expanding both rail infrastructure and electric transportation options citywide.
State of play:
Maryam-e-Moqaddas is now the 161st metro station in Tehran.
Built 34 meters underground
11,000 square meters of floor space
Christian-inspired architectural elements
Construction involved 102,000 m³ of excavation, 3,600 tons of rebar, 27,000 m³ of concrete, and 6,000 m² of stonework.
What he is saying:
Mohsen Hormozi, Tehran’s deputy mayor for transportation and traffic, emphasized that the station had been initially opened two years ago, but is now fully equipped for service:
He added, "The construction started in 2015, but the work stopped for a period. After consultations with friends in the Church and the synergy that was formed, it was decided that the station would be named after Saint Mary. This move was widely welcomed by the public and garnered more than 4 million live views. Also, 43 news teams were present to cover the event."
Hormozi said, "Next week, the new trains will be delivered to the municipality."
He continued, "In this term of urban management, we pursued the simultaneous development of infrastructure and the fleet. Today, I proudly announce that more than 2,000 new buses have entered the fleet, including about 400 fully electric… According to statistics, almost every day, three new buses have been added to the Tehran bus fleet."
Catch up quickly:
Tehran has intensified its investment in urban transport since 2022, focusing on metro expansion, electrification, and upgrading old fleets to address air quality concerns.
Between the lines:
The dedication of a metro station named after Saint Mary underscores Tehran’s efforts to promote religious coexistence and highlight the presence of Christian communities in the capital.
Go deeper:
"Maryam-E Moghaddas" (Saint Mary) Metro Station to Open in Tehran
Zohre Khazaee - Hossein Vaez
