Gyeonggi Province discusses Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju rail project delays

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly held a meeting to discuss optimal contracting methods for the Gangdong-Hanam-Namyangju metropolitan railway construction project. The discussion follows four consecutive failed bids for sections 2 and 5 of the project, raising concerns about construction delays.

The 2.93 trillion won project spans 17.59 km, connecting Seoul's Gangdong district through Hanam to Namyangju. It serves as a critical transportation measure for the 3rd generation new cities, including the Wangsuk and Wangsuk 2 districts, where residents are expected to begin moving in by 2028.

Officials and experts compared two primary alternatives: a turnkey (negotiated contract) method and a separate design-build (other works) method. While the turnkey approach could accelerate the opening date and mitigate budget increases through fixed-price contracts, it requires enhanced safety and quality management. Conversely, separating design and construction would increase competition but risks further delays and potential cost increases due to design changes.