Prague will once again deal with the reconstruction of Masaryk Railway Station

Prague - The city council of the capital will again address the criticized changes to the urban plan on Thursday, which would allow for the reconstruction of Masaryk and Smíchov railway stations or the Žižkov Freight Station. This is not liked by the Arnika association. The discussion of changes to the metropolis was reportedly postponed last autumn due to disagreements with urban planners.
    Projects for the reconstruction of Prague's railway stations have previously sparked public disapproval, and in some cases, heritage conservationists opposed them. The most closely followed was probably the planned construction on the site of the current tracks at Masaryk Station. Some municipalities in Central Bohemia were concerned that the station could be closed and the connection between Central Bohemia and the capital would be complicated. Green council members from Prague 3 objected to the planned redevelopment of the Žižkov Freight Station.
    On Thursday, the council will also discuss changes concerning Trojmezí and the former Walter factory site in Jinonice. Councilors will receive dozens of proposals included in the so-called wave 06, which will allow, among other things, new residential development in Čakovice, Letňany, Dolní Měcholupy, Horní Počernice, Kunratice, and other city districts.
    Other changes will also specify the route of the Prague ring road between Březiněves and Horní Počernice, allow for the extension of the tram line to Slivenec, and the placement of railway stops in Karlín and Braník.
    “Prague politicians were apparently overtaken by panic after the results of the parliamentary elections. It is hard to explain otherwise the frantic effort for the quickest approval of dozens of problematic changes to the urban plan,” stated the Arnika association, which also criticizes the project for the development of the former Strnad gardening site in Veleslavín.
    The ODS, which currently controls the capital's city hall, finished second in the parliamentary elections in Prague, having been overtaken by TOP 09. Following the autumn elections to the city council, ODS may no longer hold a dominant position in Prague's city hall.
    Arnika is additionally dissatisfied that some changes were only discussed today by the urban development committee. “The speed of approval for dozens of changes to the urban plan is astonishing even for Prague. The residents of Prague have no chance to even learn about the discussions within three days, let alone participate in them,” noted Arnika spokesperson Zora Kasiková.