YEREVAN / ARKA/. Pre- paratory work for the con- struction of a new metro station near the “Surmalu” shopping center and the im- plementation of a compre- hensive urban development investment program is near- ing completion, said Aneta Babayan, Director of the Ye- revan Urban Development Investment Programs Imple- mentation Office. “We have signed two consultancy contracts in this regard: one for conducting a feasibility study and prepar- ing the program, and the sec- ond for developing the urban planning concept and pro- viding preliminary station designs. Interim results for both areas have already been received,” Babayan noted during a working meeting. According to her, work is currently underway to final- ize the results. “The final reports will be submitted before the begin- ning of November, and we will then be ready to discuss the specific implementation mechanism and move for- ward,” Babayan stated. About the “Surmalu” station It was previously report- ed that the new “Surmalu” metro station—set to be the 12th in the network—is planned for the stretch be- tween the existing “Sasuntsi David” and “Zoravar An- dranik” stations. The project aims to improve transport accessibility in the area, in- cluding the vicinity of the “Surmalu” and “Petak” shopping centers and Sevan Street. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan previously stated that the design work for the station’s construction would be funded by the municipal budget, with an allocation of 400 million drams.