The line was first opened in 1979,[1] running originally from Station Square, where Tbilisi Central Railway station is located to Delisi and has since extended to the western residential districts of the city, near Tbilisi State University’s X and XI buildings.

The western extension of the line has been frozen for some time before Vazha-Pshavela station opened in the year 2000.

Construction of the State University station (Sakhelmtsipo Universiteti), which dates back to the Soviet era and was suspended for 22 years, was restarted in July 2015 and was completed in October 2017.

Older potential development plans included either making the Saburtalo line a circular line continuing in the east towards the direction of Sabcho (Nowadays, Chitaia) Square, Saarbrücken Square, and to Rustaveli station as a transfer station and then towards the direction of Vake and back to Saburtalo.

Alternative development option included continuing towards Kukia and eastern Tbilisi Sea settlements.