South Chungcheong Province (Chungnam), along with six local cities and counties within the province, as well as the metropolitan cities of Daejeon and Sejong, have jointly stepped up efforts to urge the central government to include the "Chungcheong Inland Railway" project in the upcoming 5th National Railway Network Construction Plan. This strategic transportation initiative aims to lay the groundwork for an ultra-wide-area living zone across the broader Chungcheong region.

On the 18th, South Chungcheong Province announced that Administrative Vice-Governor Hong Jong-wan visited the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) in Seoul to officially deliver a joint petition signed by regional leaders. The petition bears the signatures of the heads of metropolitan and local governments, including the governors and mayors of Chungnam, Daejeon, and Sejong, alongside the heads of six Chungnam municipalities: Seosan, Gongju, Cheongyang, Hongseong, Yesan, and Taean. Vice-Governor Hong, accompanied by vice-mayors and senior officials from the six participating municipalities, personally handed over the joint appeal to the Ministry's Railway Bureau Director.

The joint petition outlines several core arguments for why the railway project must be incorporated into the national blueprint. Key points emphasize completing an east-west transportation axis in the Chungcheong region to drive future national growth, establishing a 1-hour commuting and living zone to fulfill the vision of a "Chungcheong Megacity," and providing robust support for the government’s "5 Poles and 3 Special Zones" balanced development strategy.

In the joint statement, the regional leaders emphasized that the Chungcheong Inland Railway will serve as a foundational infrastructure project to connect industrial and administrative functions, thereby building a super-regional industrial belt and boosting national competitiveness. They noted that the railway goes far beyond simply reducing travel times; it will strengthen solidarity among local governments in the region and lay the cornerstone for a thriving Chungcheong Megacity. The leaders stressed that this project must be reflected in the 5th National Railway Network Plan to ensure that the government's regional balanced development policies translate into tangible, real-world outcomes. 

The proposed Chungcheong Inland Railway is a single-track electrification project spanning a total length of 146.7 kilometers. It is designed to connect Taean, Seosan Airport, Naepo New Town, and Gongju, extending all further through Sejong, Sintanjin, and Daejeon. The total project cost is estimated at approximately 4.4725 trillion won. 

Once completed, this railway line will seamlessly link the region's industrial and administrative hubs, drastically cutting down inter-regional travel times and binding the Chungcheong region into a single unified living and economic sphere. Experts point out that inclusion in the national plan will dramatically improve accessibility to major metropolitan networks for Chungnam's west coast and inland areas, where railway infrastructure has historically been relatively sparse. Furthermore, the project is expected to enhance connectivity among major regional growth poles, improve accessibility to the Chungnam Innovation City, and drive greater efficiency in tourism and industrial logistics transportation.

Looking ahead, South Chungcheong Province plans to maintain close cooperation with Daejeon, Sejong, and the province's municipal governments. Through a unified front, they aim to persuade the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport during the final stages leading up to the official announcement of the 5th National Railway Network Plan slated for later this year, ensuring that the critical Chungcheong Inland Railway successfully secures its place in the national blueprint.

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