SEOUL: For being ranked among the global top five cities in terms of urban competitiveness, Seoul — the capital of South Korea — has undertaken the second phase of its riverfront development, known as the Great Hangang Project (GHP).
The South Korean model bears a resemblance to the Telangana government’s approach, as it has set an ambitious target of achieving a two-trillion-dollar economy by pursuing a similar riverfront development project.
A delegation from the Telangana government, led by ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Ponnam Prabhakar, which also included Chief Minister’s adviser Vem Narender Reddy, bureaucrats and elected representatives, went around the Hangang (also known as the Han river) and explored the floating amenities built on it.
A day after studying the Cheonggyecheon river restoration, the delegation examined the Han riverfront development by interacting with local administration and visiting the riverfront. The ministers observed that Telangana’s Musi river is somewhere between the Cheonggyecheon and Hangang rivers in terms of its condition, as it requires both revival and development.
The Han river flows through the Seoul metropolitan area for around 50 km and is one of the primary reasons the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), the capital city’s civic body, initiated the GHP.
Once polluted, River Han water now fit for drinking
The objectives of the GHP are to enhance the citizens’ quality of life by improving the attractiveness of the river and upgrading its riverside amenities while respecting the natural ecosystem.
As part of the GHP, the SMG will also develop various modes of transportation for both pedestrians and public transit users through different projects and create venues for artistic and cultural experiences, such as concerts and festivals. The SMG has set a target to complete the project within the next five years.
While the first phase of the Hangang riverfront development — the Hangang Renaissance Project — was aimed at reviving the highly polluted river, the second phase aimed to create urban parks in the buffer zone and build floating amenities. The model they have adopted focuses on MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), said MAUD Principal Secretary Dana Kishore.
The locals have witnessed the transformation of the Han river, which is widely considered the “Miracle of the Han river.”
“About 30 years ago, the Han river was so polluted that nobody used to swim in it. Now, treated water is even being supplied for drinking purposes,” said Lee Ching Hun, a private architect with Space Group, which was also involved in designing T-Hub in Hyderabad.
Speaking to TNIE about one of the floating amenities, Lee said that while the SMG estimated the project would cost around 313.5bn Won, they expect it to generate an economic benefit of over 925bn Won and generate employment.