In Smíchov, a new headquarters for the Ministry of Transport could be created

Prague - During the planned transformation of the Smíchov railway station in Prague, there are considerations to build a modern transportation center for the republic, which, in addition to the Railway Administration and the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD), could also house the Ministry of Transport and Czech Railways (ČD). Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) wrote today on twitter after visiting the station that the Ministry of Transport could then release its historic building to the National Museum.

Minister of Transport Jiří Havlíček (for ANO) stated in response to a query from ČTK that a preliminary study for the headquarters of the Railway Administration and ŘSD has already been prepared as part of the reconstruction of the Smíchov railway station. "We are also considering a new option that a modern facility would be built simultaneously for the Ministry of Transport and ČD. Everything would be in one place in several interconnected pavilions. A true transportation center for the Czech Republic would be created in a location that is excellently accessible. It is directly on the railway, subway, bus, and tram lines. It would create a place accessible to the general public and at the same time comfortable for employees," said Havlíček. "I like it; it would be a huge synergy," Babiš thinks.

Deputy Mayor of Prague Adam Scheinherr (Prague Sobě) stated that the area is perfectly served by transport and has enormous potential for new development. "It has provided us with the opportunity to connect the construction of a new transportation terminal with the construction of new headquarters for state institutions such as the Railway Administration and others. We are beginning to realize and design this vision together with the Railway Administration," the deputy told ČTK today.

Babiš would like to move the headquarters of ministries and state offices to a newly built complex in Letňany. The land belongs to the capital city, whose leadership does not like the vision of a government quarter and conditions the transfer of the land to the state, for example, with a financial contribution to complete the city ring road. At the same time, the city hall would like a hospital to be built in Letňany, which could replace the Bulovka Hospital.

The Ministry of Transport currently has its headquarters in a neoclassical building on the Vltava waterfront, which is a cultural monument. It was built for the Ministry of Railways and served as the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia from 1960 to 1990. The building with a six-story center and three-story wings was constructed from 1927 to 1932 according to a design by architect Antonín Engel. The sculptural decoration of the building was provided by Josef Mařatka, Josef Pekárek, and Ladislav Kofránek.

A terminal is set to be built in Smíchov, where transfers between the metro, trams, trains, and suburban connections will be possible. The station building will be renovated and a fourth platform will be added. The area in front of the station will also undergo changes, with extensions of the old station building being demolished. The tram tracks will be moved closer to the station. Estimated costs are several billion crowns. The project includes the construction of a bus station on the roof of the railway station "based on the model of the most modern complexes of this kind in the world," Havlíček stated today.

The planned reconstruction is being developed in cooperation with the City of Prague and the Railway Administration. In March of this year, city councilors selected a company to develop the transportation terminal project. Construction could begin in about three and a half years, Scheinherr said at that time.

The construction is part of the newly developed district of Smíchov City by the developer Sekyra Group, where up to 3,300 people are expected to find housing. The northern part, which will start at Na Knížecí and is intended primarily for residential purposes, is planned to be started by the company at the beginning of next year.