ČD opened the reconstructed hall of Masaryk Railway Station

Prague - Czech Railways have opened the newly reconstructed hall of Masaryk Station. This is the first phase of the planned repairs of this second most important Prague railway station for about 60 million crowns. Further phases of reconstruction are to follow. This was said by Marek Dospiva from the investment company Penta, which financed the project.
    "The center of Prague is a living organism and it is not a museum. Nevertheless, it is possible to show that the reconstruction that took place here was done very sensitively," said the mayor of Prague 1, Oldřich Lomecký. According to him, it generally applies that investors are seen as those who destroy the beauty of the inner city of Prague.
    After years of discussions, it seems that something finally started to happen with the station, Lomecký added, noting that the reconstruction of the station building is significant from a transport perspective. The municipality hopes that this reconstruction will not be the only one and that the railways, along with the investment company Penta, which recently joined the consortium restoring Masaryk Station, will continue the reconstruction of the station.
    The acceleration of the renewal after Penta's entry into Masaryk Station Investment is also believed by the general director of Czech Railways, Petr Žaluda. According to him, the station needs an immediate start of work on the remainder of the dispatch building so that it meets the requirements of the 21st century. The level of the surrounding area should also improve, he added.
    The continuation of further phases of reconstruction and interest in revitalizing the area was confirmed by Dospiva for Penta. "We consider it a great shame that this central area of Prague 1 is in such a neglected state," he added, noting that the developer has a significant interest in the accelerated revitalization of the area.
    The reconstruction of Masaryk Station was financed by the Masaryk Station Investment (MSI) group, 80 percent of which is owned by the investment group Penta. The remaining 20 percent of MSI is owned by the companies Sudop and Morávka centrum. MSI is working with Czech Railways on the preparation of commercial development on unused plots around Prague's Masaryk Station. Masaryk Station Investment is a 66 percent shareholder in Masaryk Station Development (MSD), in which the remaining 34 percent is owned by Czech Railways. According to Žaluda, Czech Railways did not financially participate in the reconstruction of the hall.