The city council plans to form a working group for the preparation of the construction of the circular metro O

Prague - The Prague City Hall plans to establish a working group that will address the possible preparation for the construction of the new metro line O, which would be the fifth circular line. Members will include transport experts, urban planners, sociologists, economists, and representatives of city companies. The intention was approved by the councilors at their conceptual meeting and will also be discussed at their regular session within two weeks. Deputy Mayor Adam Scheinherr (Prague Ours) informed ČTK today.

The city is currently planning the construction of line D from Pankrác to Písnice, for which it is awaiting valid building permits, and for which the transport company (DPP) has already completed geological surveys.

"At the conceptual coalition meeting, we agreed that it makes sense to evaluate the benefits of metro line O for the future development of Prague - although some coalition partners have different views on the matter. However, until we put a comprehensive study on the table, we cannot make a final decision," Scheinherr said.

The working group will consist of experts in transport, spatial development, sociologists, social geographers, architects, or economists. Representatives from city companies such as Ropid, which plans Prague's public transport, DPP, or the Institute of Planning and Development (IPR) will also be invited. The city will also discuss the proposal with the state Railway Administration.

The Prague Ours (PS), United Forces for Prague (TOP 09 and STAN), and Pirates coalition are currently not unified in their opinion on the construction of the circular line. While PS and the Pirates supported the intention, Petr Hlubuček, the chair of Prague's STAN and deputy mayor, opposed it. According to him, the intention is "economically absolutely nonsensical both as an investment and in subsequent operation."

The new line O is expected to run from Nádraží Podbaba through Dejvice, Smíchov, Dvorce, Budějovická, Vršovice, Žižkov, Vysočany, Čakovice, and then in the second phase back north to Podbaba. According to the initial proposal, it would measure about 36 kilometers and have 23 stations. The circular line has appeared in the plans for metro construction since the 1980s.

The city is currently awaiting building permits for the construction of the first section of the fourth metro line D, which is expected to measure about ten kilometers and connect Pankrác and Písnice. In the future, another section is planned to be built from Pankrác to Náměstí Míru. The total estimated cost of line D, according to this year's update, is 97.79 billion crowns.