Tbilisi has moved from talking about a tram to contracting one. On 7 September 2026 the municipality signed a design-and-build agreement for a new tram line connecting Didi Digomi with Didube metro. That matters most to residents of one of the city’s fastest-growing residential areas, where buses and road traffic currently carry most peak-hour demand.
What was signed on 7 September 2026?
The contract covers both design and construction under a Design-Build model and includes a tram depot. The selected contractor is the Turkish joint venture EYE. City Hall has said construction disruption will be communicated as the project advances.
The key practical distinction is that the tram is now a contracted infrastructure project. That does not mean a fully detailed public construction schedule, stop list or opening day is already fixed for residents. Those details should be treated as provisional until the municipality publishes them.
Why Didi Digomi needs the tram connection
Didi Digomi has grown into a major residential district while remaining dependent on road-based transport for the first part of many commutes. A direct tram-to-metro connection can change the structure of a journey: instead of remaining in mixed traffic all the way toward the centre, passengers can transfer at Didube to the metro network.
For expats choosing housing, the sensible approach is still to evaluate today's commute rather than paying a premium based on a future transport promise. A 36-month project period is substantial, and construction itself can temporarily make road access more difficult.
When could the new Tbilisi tram open?
The publicly stated implementation period is 36 months. If measured from the contracted project start without material delay, that points broadly toward 2029. TbilisiExpats.com is not treating 2029 as a guaranteed opening date because design approvals, utility relocation, construction phasing and testing can move delivery.
What residents should watch next
- the confirmed stop locations and interchange layout at Didube;
- construction phasing and temporary road restrictions;
- how feeder buses will connect to the tram;
- ticketing integration with the existing Tbilisi public-transport system;
- the final rolling-stock and accessibility specifications.
Related Tbilisi transport changes in 2026
The tram is arriving during a wider transport refresh. City Hall said on 26 August that the first batch of updated metro rolling stock was ready for operation. Separately, Rustaveli Avenue remains under rehabilitation and a revised temporary traffic scheme around surrounding streets took effect on 1 September.