Mayor Ichiro Matsui has confirmed that a pre-condition to Osaka selecting its IR operator partner will be their acceptance of a JPY20.2 billion (US$186 million) bill to extend the subway to Yumeshima.
During a question and answer session at Osaka City Council, Matsui stated the condition “will not change regardless of the opening date” of an Osaka IR, according to The Osaka Nichibun.
The planned extension, which will run for 3km from Cosmosquare to Yumeshima, is already set to be built as part of the Osaka Metro Chuo line. It will include the undersea Yumesaki Tunnel, due to open in 2024.
JPY44.4 billion has already been spent on construction of the Yumesaki Tunnel, with the remaining costs estimated at JPY54 billion. Of this, the national government will pay JPY6.4 billion, Osaka city will pay JPY6.4 billion as general accounting and JPY 20.2 billion will come from reclamation accounting. The IR operator will cover JPY20.2 billion as a development cost.
