Suwon Takes Bold Steps to Realize Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Project

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon Special City is taking bold steps to realize the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway project.

The city announced on the 27th that it submitted data related to the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway project to the Metropolitan Transportation Committee (hereinafter referred to as MTC), which is establishing the '5th Metropolitan Wide-area Transportation Implementation Plan (2026-30)', together with Yongin, Seongnam, and Hwaseong cities.

This follows Suwon's submission in May with the three other cities of the 'Recommendations for the 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan' containing the 'Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Basic Concept' to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and now marks the submission of related data to the MTC to realize the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway project.

The Metropolitan Wide-area Transportation Implementation Plan is a statutory upper-level plan established by the MTC on a five-year basis to effectively promote improvements to the metropolitan wide-area transportation system.

Railway projects are promoted after undergoing preliminary feasibility studies when reflected in the National Railway Network Construction Plan or the Metropolitan Transportation Implementation Plan.

The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway route passes through new public residential development districts announced by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, such as Jinan New Town in Hwaseong and the Bongdam 3 District. As preemptive metropolitan transportation improvement measures can be established, there is a high possibility of reflection in the MTC's metropolitan transportation implementation plan.

Meanwhile, Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun delivered the 'Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Priority Review Request' to Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Park Sang-woo on the 18th. The request contained the following content: 'The Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway Basic Concept was created through agreement by four cities (Suwon, Yongin, Seongnam, and Hwaseong), Gyeonggi Province, and Seoul City, so there are no disputes between local governments. The project will benefit 4.2 million residents of Gyeonggi Province, and it is a route with high economic feasibility (B/C ratio) of 1.2, so there is sufficient justification for inclusion.'

A city official stated, "We will actively work with regional members of the National Assembly to ensure that the Gyeonggi Southern Metropolitan Railway project is reflected in the relevant plans of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Metropolitan Transportation Committee."