Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo quoted as saying, “Work on the GTX is expected to start in 2014.”
(Published February 21, 2013)

GTX is included in the new government’s top 140 priority agenda.
“The GTX will start running in 2020 as pledged by President-elect Park Geun-hye.”

◇ On February 21, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo expressed his expectation that work on the GTX (Great Train eXpress) will start in 2014 and be completed by 2020, as pledged by the President-elect Park Geun-hye. ⓒ G- News Plus
 
As regards the inclusion of the GTX project in the top 140 priority agenda items announced by the Presidential Transition Committee for the new government on February 21, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo expressed his approval, saying, “It shows that the new government recognizes the need for early commencement of the project.”
 
On February 21, the Presidential Transition Committee said that the construction of the GTX in the Greater Seoul Area would be included in the major plan to be promoted by the new government with regard to the advancement of logistics, marine affairs, and the transportation network.
 
Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo has worked hard to ensure the GTX project is adopted as one of the new government’s major concerns. He brought the matter up in a meeting with President-elect Park Geun-hye on January 31.
 
Governor Kim said, “The President-elect Park Geun-hye made a pledge concerning the GTX project, so we can expect work on the GTX to begin in 2014, with its commercial launch scheduled for 2020.”
 
The GTX plan proposed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office comprises the following three routes: KINTEX – Suseo (46.2㎞) (the Suseo-Dongtan (27.5㎞) section to be covered by the existing KTX), Songdo – Cheongnyangni (48.7㎞), and Uijeongbu – Geumjeong (45.8㎞) (Total: 140.7㎞). The plan also includes the construction of twenty-two transit stations which will connect with existing subway lines.◇ Virtual image of the GTX ⓒ G-News Plus
 
The top 140 priority agenda items announced by the new government include an increase in funding support from the national treasury for railroad networks in metropolitan regions.
 
As such, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office expects that the GTX project will receive a strong boost with the inauguration of the new government.
 
The current Special Act on the Management of Intercity Transportation in Metropolitan Areas sets the share of the national treasury’s expenditure at 75% for a project carried out by the central government and at 60% for a project carried out by a local government (e.g. the Amsa-Byeolnae line and the Sangil-Hanam line, respectively).

In this connection, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office has proposed to the Presidential Transition Committee and the President-elect on several occasions that the share of the national treasury’s expenditure on railroads extending from the existing Seoul subways should be raised to 75%.
 
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office has also pointed to the need for uniform application of the national treasury’s 75% share to railroad projects related to metropolitan regions by making an amendment to the law in cooperation with the National Assembly members from the province.

Commenting on the matter, an official at the Gyeonggi Provincial Office said, “At present, the projects concerning the Amsa-Byeolnae and Sangil-Hanam lines have stalled due to the problem relating to the national treasury’s share of expenditure. They are expected to get a boost following the announcement of the Presidential Transition Committee, and we shall take the necessary preparatory steps to push ahead with the projects.”
 
ⓒ G-News Plus News | Nam Gyeong-u echo2008f@gg.go.kr
 
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