TEHRAN -- The Managing Director of the Tehran Metro has announced that on August 25 the first phase of Line 1 will start experimental work.

Mr. Mohsen Hashemi said on Thursday that Line 1 will be inaugurated during Government Week by the president.

He said that the Aliabad, Khazane, South Terminal, Shush, Molavi, Khayyam, 15 Khordad, Imam Khomeini, Saadi and Darvaze Dolat stations are ready to start work.

Hashemi added that Line 1's working hours will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. He promised that the subway project would be completed within three years.

He apologized for the delay in the installation of escalators and promised that they would be installed in the stations in due course.

Hashemi added that special escalators for invalids would soon be installed in the stations.

According to reports, Mr. Atrianfar, the head of the Tehran City Council, expressed his satisfaction and said that construction of Lines 3 and 4 would start soon after the completion of Lines 1 and 2.