Regarding the reconstruction of the railway station, the opponent of the relocation, Ander, will negotiate on behalf of Brno

Brno - The city of Brno will be represented in negotiations regarding the billion-dollar reconstruction of the railway hub by former director of Hnutí Duha Martin Ander, who in previous years was one of the loudest opponents of the so-called relocation of the station advocated by the Civic Democrats. The relevant mandate was given to the released councilor from the Green Party by the new city council. Ander claims that despite warnings from the former city council, there is still enough time for new studies and potential reassessments of the existing plans.
    "It was necessary to give Mr. Ander certain competencies so that he could address this issue," explained Brno Mayor Roman Onderka (ČSSD) to ČTK regarding the reasons for the mandate. He considers the preparation of an independent analysis that will determine the more advantageous variant of the station reconstruction and ensuring financing from the European Union to be the most important tasks. "The money from the union must not be jeopardized," says Onderka.
    The Civic Democrats argue that it is necessary to secure the funds as soon as possible. "The project of the railway hub is ready, prepared with bows. There is no time for any analyses. They do not realize that it is not five minutes to twelve, but five minutes past twelve," said the head of the South Moravian ODS Milan Venclík.
    Ander remains calm. "From what I know now, it will be possible to submit applications and other requirements at a later date," he told ČTK today, adding that details are being clarified in Brussels these days by Green Party MP Ondřej Liška. Ander does not intend to give up on new analyses comparing the benefits of relocating the station and reconstructing it in its current location at any cost. He does not yet know who will carry it out; however, in recent days, discussions have mainly focused on some technical universities outside Brno or abroad.
    In his first week in office, Ander wants to familiarize himself primarily with the documentation to which he had not previously had access as an activist of Hnutí Duha. He will then meet with all project partners from whom the city expects financial contributions or other share in the project, such as representatives of the region and the government.
    The city has already invested hundreds of millions of crowns into the relocation project - paying for documentation, projects, promotion, and land acquisition. Everything was directed towards the relocation that has been discussed in Brno for an entire century. The current form of the hub is said to be chaotic, hindering the city's development and preventing the introduction of express train operations. However, opponents argue that the necessary modernization can also be carried out in the center, and there is no need to build a station nearly a kilometer further away. Recent cost estimates for reconstruction in the relocated position stand at 24 billion crowns. The project was supposed to fully commence in the second half of next year.
    Even though Ander has been entrusted with discussions about the railway hub, proponents of the relocation still hold a majority in the Brno council across the coalition and opposition. Civic Democrats, Christian Democrats, and Communists consider reconstruction in the existing location impossible.