Gangdong-gu, Hanam-si, Bucheon-si, Gimpo-si Joint Statement on 'Protecting the Original GTX-D Plan'

Gangdong-gu Urges Connection of 'Gimpo~Bucheon~Gangdong~Hanam' Proposed by Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) announced on the morning of the 20th at Bucheon Sports Complex Station, together with the mayors of Gimpo, Bucheon, and Hanam, a joint statement regarding the shortening of the GTX-D line section ‘Gimpo~Bucheon’ and jointly held an event urging the connection of the GTX-D line ‘Gimpo~Bucheon~Gangdong~Hanam’.

So far, Gangdong-gu has conducted a resident signature campaign from March to August 2020 to have the GTX-D line pass through Gangdong-gu, garnering participation from more than 100,000 residents. The district also independently carried out the ‘Gangdong-gu GTX-D Introduction Research Project’ and proposed to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) that the GTX-D line pass through Gangdong-gu.

Additionally, immediately after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced at the public hearing on April 22 for the ‘4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan (Draft)’ that the GTX-D (Western Metropolitan Express Railroad) line would be reduced to the ‘Gimpo Janggi~Bucheon Sports Complex’ section, Gangdong-gu pointed out the problems with the route reduction and officially protested, actively expressing opposition.

Furthermore, on May 12, the ‘Gangdong-gu·Hanam City GTX-D Line Joint Attraction Committee,’ composed of about 20 members including Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, Kim Sang-ho, Mayor of Hanam, and resident representatives, protested the reduction of the GTX-D line section from Gimpo to Bucheon at the entrance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport building in Sejong City, and issued a statement urging the inclusion of the GTX-D line passing through Gangdong-gu and Hanam City in the metropolitan area express railroad network.

In addition, on May 20, the day of the joint statement announcement, Gangdong-gu proposed a joint response with Seoul City by adopting a joint statement at the Seoul Mayors’ Council meeting held at Jongno-gu Office to reflect the GTX-D line’s Seoul section. Going forward, the district plans to strongly request the connection of the GTX-D Seoul section through solidarity with the Seoul Mayors’ Council and other autonomous districts.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, said, “We had expected the GTX-D line to be an alternative to resolve the population increase due to large-scale reconstruction, housing development, and business complex formation, as well as the rapidly worsening metropolitan traffic congestion. However, upon hearing the news that the line would be drastically reduced to the ‘Gimpo Janggi~Bucheon Sports Complex’ section, we could not hide our disappointment. This reduction announced by MOLIT greatly diminishes the balanced development of the metropolitan area and the compact urban space effect that the GTX project aims for, while removing the connecting link that would allow Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon to develop together,” and added, “We strongly urge the route to be readjusted to reflect the national will and included in the 4th National Railroad Network Construction Plan so that the metropolitan express railroad (GTX-D) does not lose its significance.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.