By KHT Staff. Left: proposed Purple Line. Right: Red Line south extension.
KAOHSIUNG — The KMT and DPP candidates for Kaohsiung mayor are urging faster progress on separate MRT projects, despite a warning that high-cost, low-ridership lines could become long-term financial burdens, the Liberty Times reported on Sept. 8.
Chang Ching-sen (張景森), a former minister without portfolio in the Executive Yuan, Taiwan’s Cabinet, recently said MRT construction can exceed NT$5 billion or NT$6 billion per kilometer and sometimes reach NT$10 billion. He said the capital efficiency of some newly planned routes can vary by a factor of 20.
Chang called for a second review before contracts are awarded for a project’s main construction work, particularly when costs, demand or other assumptions have changed. He said the proposal was intended to slow projects for closer examination rather than stop MRT construction altogether.
Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) has pledged to accelerate the Siaogang-Linyuan Line. She has also said that after the line opens, officials should examine a possible extension from Linyuan District (林園區) to Donggang Township (東港鎮) in neighboring Pingtung County.
The Kaohsiung City Government says the line is under construction and is planned to run 11.77 kilometers with seven stations between R3 Siaogang station in Siaogang District (小港區) and Linyuan.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) has focused on the Purple Line, which remains in feasibility planning. Lai has proposed building a priority section first and starting comprehensive planning and environmental review while the feasibility report proceeds through the central approval process.
The Kaohsiung City Government describes the planned Purple Line as a 25.35-kilometer route with 23 stations through Sanmin (三民), Zuoying (左營), Nanzih (楠梓), Ciaotou (橋頭) and Yanchao (燕巢) districts.
