"Connect the Neglected GTX-A in Government Policies"‥ Gwangju, Icheon, Yeoju, Wonju Urge 'Balanced Development'

"GTX Connection is the Solution to Metropolitan Traffic Congestion and the Win-Win Development of the Capital and Non-Capital Regions"

Four local government heads of Gwangju, Icheon, Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province, and Wonju in Gangwon Province held a vision declaration ceremony urging the connection of GTX-A. [Provided by Gwangju City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Four local governments?Gwangju, Icheon, Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province, and Wonju in Gangwon Province?have jointly urged the government to implement balanced development measures addressing the various overlapping regulations that have restricted them in relation to 'public housing site development' and the extension of the 'Great Train Express (GTX-A)'.

Regarding the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's announcement on August 30th of the third phase of new public housing sites, the four cities stated on the 7th, "Areas that have been restricted by various overlapping regulations such as the Capital Region Readjustment Act and water source protection laws have once again been neglected by the government," and added, "We jointly urge the government to correct discrimination and inequality and lay the foundation for balanced development."

These local governments, despite being located close to Seoul, remain marginalized in national policies and have raised the need for systematic urban development, demanding as an essential prerequisite the 'connection of GTX-A from Gwangju to Icheon, Yeoju, and Wonju.'

The Gwangju, Icheon, Yeoju, and Wonju GTX Attraction Joint Promotion Committee emphasized, "If a connecting section that links the Sugwang Line and Gyeonggang Line is installed at Suseo Station on the currently under-construction GTX-A (Samsung to Dongtan) line, the cost is expected to be significantly lower due to the nature of the underground construction."

They added, "In the future, with Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon provinces connected as one, including the non-capital region section of Wonju along with Gwangju, Icheon, and Yeoju, true 'mutual development between the capital region and non-capital regions' is expected to be possible."

In particular, the extension of GTX to these areas is anticipated to shift the transportation system from car-centered to rail-centered public transit, helping to alleviate metropolitan traffic congestion and aligning with current issues such as carbon neutrality and the Green New Deal policy.

The excavation schedule for the deep tunnel section 3 of the Samsung to Dongtan segment, where the GTX-A connecting section would be installed, is planned for November. Accordingly, the four cities have stated that installing the connecting section before the commencement of construction in this segment is an urgent matter, requiring swift policy decisions from the government.

The heads of these local governments urged the government’s decisive action, saying, "If the construction timing is missed, the extension of the GTX-A line will be practically impossible. Since the four local governments have also disclosed their share of the construction costs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport must promptly decide on the 'installation of the Sugwang Line connecting section' for the century-long future of the national railway."

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