On the 16th, a business agreement ceremony was held among three districts to underground the aboveground section of Urban Railway Line 2... Alleviating inconvenience for nearby residents and stepping up to make Seongsu-dong an economic hub
Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced on the 16th that the three autonomous districts of 'Seongdong-Songpa-Gwangjin' signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly respond to the undergrounding of the aboveground section of Subway Line 2.
Seongdong-gu recognized issues such as disruption of urban functions and road systems, noise, and vibration caused by the operation of the aboveground section of Line 2, and set undergrounding as a long-term task, making efforts to promote the undergrounding project.
The aboveground section of Subway Line 2 consists of the circular line from Hanyang University Station to Jamsil Station (9.02 km) and the branch line from Seongsu Station to Sindap Station (3.57 km), totaling 12.59 km. Since the opening of the circular line in 1984, not only has the railway facility aged over time, but recent changes in the urban environment have raised major issues such as disruption of living areas and decreased land use efficiency caused by the aboveground railway.
Accordingly, at 2:30 p.m. on the 16th, the three autonomous districts of 'Seongdong-Songpa-Gwangjin' joined hands and signed an MOU at Gwangjin-gu Office to jointly respond to the undergrounding of Line 2. From a future-oriented perspective, social needs for functional reorganization have been raised, and systematic discussions have begun to realize this. Seoul City also announced in January this year that it included the undergrounding of aboveground railways in the six spatial plans of the '2040 Seoul Urban Master Plan,' aiming to create space and resolve the shortage of available land.
The undergrounding of Subway Line 2 is a long-term project requiring enormous budgets and time, so many difficulties are expected. Through this agreement, the three autonomous districts connected by the aboveground section of Line 2 have come together to recognize the residents' long-cherished project and establish a cooperative body to promote undergrounding, which is highly significant. In the future, they plan to jointly conduct research projects and build an organic cooperative relationship for joint responses to the forthcoming enactment of the '(tentative name) Special Act on Undergrounding Railway Facilities and Development of Upper Structures.'
Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, emphasized, "The undergrounding of Line 2 is necessary not only to alleviate residents' inconveniences but also to elevate Seongsu-dong as an economic hub that attracts companies and creates jobs by integrating culture and industry." He added, "If undergrounding is realized, it is expected that private investment attraction and high-density development around the stations will become possible by utilizing underground spaces around the stations, so we will definitely strive to achieve positive outcomes."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
