Objective To analyze the planning and control defects for urban rail transit hub underground spaces in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guiyang, Chengdu, and Shenzhen, explore the problems existing in the planning and control interface, it is necessary to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of planning and control for such underground spaces.

Method Taking Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guiyang, Chengdu, and Shenzhen as research cases, relevant data are collected through expert interviews and on-site investigations. Grounded theory analysis is conducted on the collected data using NVivo 11 software, and the specific manifestations and causes of the aforementioned problems are studied.

Result & Conclusion  Based on the development level of the underground space at urban rail transit hubs (hereinafter referred to as “the underground space”), cities with developed urban rail transit in China are divided into 5 categories. The main problems in the planning and control interface of the underground space include: limited planning methods, insufficient capital investment, absent policy support, and disputes over leasing and sales. The planning and control of the underground space must strictly adhere to the comprehensive planning legal system and establish diversified financing and constraint mechanisms. It is suggested that more specific laws and regulations be formulated at the national level, and be promoted by local governments with central policies as the guidance for implementation, thereby advancing the coordinated development of the underground space.