6년째 멈춘 부전마산선... 부산*경남 광역교통 '발목' / KNN

#knnnews #Busan #Subway #Bujeon #Masan #Opening [Anchor] The metropolitan transportation network connecting Busan and South Gyeongsang Province is a pressing issue, but in reality, it's a problem that won't be resolved for years. The double-track railway connecting Busan's Bujeon Station and Changwon's Masan Station is a prime example, but its opening has been indefinitely delayed for six years. Reporter Kim Soo-yoon visited the site. [Reporter] This is the overpass connecting Busan's Sasang Station, where the Bujeon-Masan double-track railway will stop, and a nearby village. Although it was completed in April of last year, the stairs leading up to the overpass are firmly blocked. This is because the opening of the line has been indefinitely delayed since the tunnel collapsed six years ago. {Shin Gong-yeol, resident of Gwaebeop-dong, Busan: "It's truly unfortunate. Residents are waiting to use the overpass as an elevator, yet it's been left like this until now."} Residents who had high hopes for convenient travel between Busan and Gyeongnam and the city center via the Bujeon-Masan Line are now enduring this inconvenience indefinitely. {Resident of Gwaebeop-dong, Busan: "It's inconvenient because the line has been there for over 40 or 50 years. It would be better to travel underground, but it's dangerous because cars block it..."} The inconvenience is also felt in Gyeongnam. Gimhae Jangyu Station is 99% complete and nearing completion, but it remains abandoned to this day. "The station and tracks are all set up, but not a single train has stopped." Residents who used to commute between Busan and Gyeongnam in a single day are now facing a decline with the station empty. {Kim Lee-dong, Chairman of the Jangyu 1-dong Community Council, Gimhae City: "From the residents' perspective, it's an eyesore. And the lack of opening should have led to the development of the surrounding commercial district... but with no foot traffic, even the stores that had moved in are closing."} However, the situation has remained stagnant for six years, with disagreements between the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the construction company over the evacuation tunnel design remaining unresolved. Frustrated, residents, along with local businesses and industry, have joined forces to urge the speedy opening of the tunnel. {Noh Eun-sik, Chairman of the Gimhae Chamber of Commerce and Industry, "Commuting is so difficult for companies... We have a lot of workers coming from Busan, and it takes about an hour. On Fridays, it takes about an hour and a half..."} However, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport extended the construction period until the end of this year, citing safety reasons, and the full opening has been postponed again to 2028. A metropolitan transportation network is essential for the successful integration of Busan and Gyeongnam. However, the construction has been delayed for six years, causing residents to suffer and becoming the biggest obstacle to integration. This is Kim Soo-yoon from KNN. Video coverage by Jeong Chang-wook Report KakaoTalk: Add 'KNN' as a friend Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.knn.co.kr Search: KNN