The inauguration of the new metro section linking Mladost and Lyulin is a welcome novelty to the life of most Sofians because it will substantially alleviate traffic congestion and provide commuters with a fast, comfortable and efficient means of transport. But it is also likely to have a serious impact on route taxis (marshrutki) across the city.

"We are expecting to experience a sharp decline in customers. As of yet, it is too early to speculate with actual numbers, and what this would mean to business, but it is inevitable. We will see in a fortnight what the situation is like," said Petar Shopov, manager of CCT, quoted by Investor.bg

CCT is one of the largest route taxi companies in the city, operating nine fixed lines.

Route taxis will not be the sole victims of Sofia's leap toward modernisation, however. Already bus and trolley lines have been redirected, and some stops will be relocated altogether. Sofia public transport company is also contemplating the possibility that some lines will have to be redirected further or closed permanently.

Experts believe that with the operation of the new metro line, the atmosphere will be spared more than 70 000 tons of carbon emissions annually, Dnevnik daily has reported.

Furthermore, Sofians will spend 50 000 hours daily less in traffic jams and congestion, while traffic along the Tsarigradsko Chaussee is expected to decrease by 14 per cent.

The new metro interchange will be inaugurated at 11am on September 8 by Prime Minister Boiko Borissov. Initially, the ceremony was scheduled for September 7, but it was postponed by a day due to the Lake Ohrid tragedy. September 7 has been declared a day of national mourning.