Will the GTX Project Go Back to Square One if the President Changes?

Ministry of Land Proposes Additional Stop Stations
Preliminary Feasibility Study Must Be Conducted Again

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] The government announced a new project plan that includes adding additional stops to the metropolitan area express railroad (GTX), but it is expected that the project will face difficulties as the new administration after the presidential election is likely to change it.

On the 24th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport presented a plan to add four stations to Line C and three stations to Lines B and D in the "Current Status and Future Plans of the GTX Project" released. However, the leading presidential candidates are pledging not only to extend the existing GTX lines but also to establish new lines such as E and F. Ultimately, when the new government takes office, a preliminary feasibility study will have to be conducted again. A ministry official said, "We need to review the project performance and budget burden. If additional extensions are made, the project scale will change and it may be delayed compared to the initial plan."

There may also be controversy over the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport changing its stance on adding new stations just less than two weeks before the presidential election, as it had initially been reluctant. Some say it is an election announcement aimed at capturing local votes. In response, the ministry drew a line, saying, "This is an issue that has been raised several times by local governments and was proposed by the project implementer." Regarding concerns that GTX will act as a catalyst to stimulate housing prices, the ministry stated, "Since this is somewhat well-known information, we believe the impact on the housing market will be minimal."

The ministry announced that it will add four stations?Wangsimni, Indeogwon, Uiwang, and Sangnok-su?to the GTX-C plan connecting Deokjeong in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, and Suwon. Among these, the addition of Sangnok-su Station, which Ansan City has requested since 2019, was officially confirmed for the first time this time. Additionally, the ministry plans to allow the project implementers to add up to three stations on Lines B and D in consultation with local governments in the future.

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