Praha 1 will promote barrier-free access to the metro at Národní

Prague - Prague 1 will advocate for the construction of barrier-free access from the metro station at Národní třída. This was approved today by the council of the first district. They have therefore commissioned Mayor Petr Hejma (ODS) to negotiate with the transport company and the city hall regarding this matter. Petition organizers against the closure of the metro at Národní třída, however, do not expect the city hall to be able to change anything. It is not a participant in the construction permit process and also lacks the funds to pay for a barrier-free entrance.
According to some councilors, the construction of barrier-free access is technically very difficult and very expensive. The indebted transport company, which is financing the reconstruction, does not have enough money for it. "Such an exit would cost one billion crowns," said councilor Jiří Láryš (ODS). According to him, it would be necessary to pay, for example, the owner of the building that the exit would lead to.
This is not agreed upon by Miloslav Kunc, a representative of the petition committee. He told ČTK that he has proposals from 2004 that estimate significantly lower costs. He added that there are still talks about two options for where to construct such an exit, but according to him, there are two additional possibilities. The entrance would then lead directly to the street or into a state building.
Due to the reconstruction, the metro station at Národní třída is expected to be closed for about 12 months, and provisional operations will last another four months. People fought against the station's closure with a petition, which was signed by about 5,500 petitioners. They requested the construction of a second entrance, which would prevent the station from having to be closed. "We are not giving up. Now the property owners will submit comments on the possible construction decision," Kunc said. He added that they are prepared to file lawsuits for errors in the proceedings. "We have already preliminarily figured out how it could be done," he added.
The metro reconstruction is to be part of a large-scale construction project. Above the station, a multifunctional building called Copa Centrum is to be built, costing approximately four billion crowns. It will include apartments, offices, shopping arcades, and parking for 250 cars. The construction is expected to take around 20 months.
The current entrance to the metro station will disappear, and a new modern entrance will be created in its place in the underground level. The metro vestibule will also be moved underground. During the repairs, trains will only pass through the station. Tram services will remain operational, but the stop on Spálená Street will be moved closer to Karlovo náměstí. The project does not yet have a building permit, so it is not clear when exactly the metro will be closed.