Mayor Kim Sang-don of Uiwang City Submits 'GTX-C Uiwang Station Final Report' to Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Mayor Kim Sang-don of Uiwang City visited the Railway Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport located in Sejong City on the 14th and delivered the final report on the 'GTX-C Uiwang Station Stop Preliminary Feasibility Study and Other Survey Projects.'

This was done to carefully address rapidly changing circumstances including the government's delay in announcing the basic plan for the Greater Seoul Area Express Railway (GTX-C) construction project and review of changes in project methods (BTO), as well as to convey citizens' wishes regarding the GTX-C Uiwang Station stop.

Over the past six months, Uiwang City presented additional station construction costs for the GTX-C line's Uiwang Station stop, train compatibility issues, and plans for utilizing the southern depot facility.

Additionally, the city noted that five public land development projects within 5 kilometers of Uiwang Station, including the 'Woram Newlywed Hope Town' and the 'Uiwang Chopyeong Public-Private Rental Housing Supply Promotion District,' were not reflected in the '2019 Greater Seoul Area Passenger Origin-Destination (O/D) Update.'

Accordingly, Uiwang City submitted an opinion paper on the 8th to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Gyeonggi Province stating that it is necessary to update GTX-C route demand projections for public land development projects that are certain to be completed by the GTX-C opening in 2027.

Mayor Kim met with Kim Sun-tae, Director of the Railway Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and delivered the opinion paper and final report including these matters.

Furthermore, Mayor Kim conveyed that since the Greater Seoul Area Express Railway (GTX-C) construction project is a massive project worth 4.3 trillion won, Uiwang City will actively cooperate to ensure the project's successful implementation.

A Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official stated, "The GTX-C construction project is of utmost concern to Greater Seoul residents, and we face difficulties in project implementation as complaints about additional station stops and complaints about early construction of the original plan occur simultaneously. We appreciate your understanding. The submitted opinion papers and final report will be carefully reviewed and actively considered in a direction that will benefit GTX-C project implementation."

Mayor Kim said, "This was a meaningful meeting where we could conduct in-depth, practical discussions on the Greater Seoul Area Express Railway project with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's working-level officials."

He continued, "Uiwang City will fulfill its substantive role in facilitating continuous and feasible consultations with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Gyeonggi Province, neighboring cities, and the private consortium preparation team for the GTX-C construction project. We will also make efforts to achieve both the success of the GTX-C project and the fulfillment of citizens' wishes through the GTX-C Uiwang Station stop."