By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said Tuesday, Sept. 1, that the Kaohsiung Metro Purple Line review was progressing relatively smoothly, while calling on the Legislative Yuan to move faster on the central government’s general budget.
Kuomintang Kaohsiung City Councilor Lee Mei-chen (李眉蓁) questioned why the project had spent about four years moving from its launch into the feasibility-review process. She also asked whether the reduction from an earlier 36-kilometer, 29-station concept to about 25 kilometers and 23 stations showed that the initial planning was incomplete.
Lee said the line should keep pace with industrial development in northern Kaohsiung and urged Chen to secure a concrete result before his term ends.
Chen said major infrastructure proposals must pass several stages, including a feasibility study, comprehensive planning and environmental review. The city has begun comprehensive-planning work in parallel while the feasibility study remains under review, he said.
Chen said the city would continue coordinating with the Ministry of Transportation and seek an early review meeting. He also asked Lee to communicate with KMT lawmakers about speeding up the general budget review.
The Kaohsiung City Government Mass Rapid Transit Bureau lists the Purple Line as being in the feasibility-study stage and under Ministry of Transportation review. The project has not advanced to construction.
An official Kaohsiung City Government summary describes the current plan as a 25.35-kilometer route with 23 stations through Sanmin District (三民區), Zuoying District (左營區), Nanzih District (楠梓區), Ciaotou District (橋頭區) and Yanchao District (燕巢區).
The city’s earlier route description outlined a preliminary 36-kilometer corridor serving six districts and linking universities, medical centers, industrial parks, Zuoying’s high-speed rail hub and the Metro Red Line. Route length and station locations remain subject to the feasibility review.
Lee also pressed Chen on the Purple Line in May, when the Kaohsiung City Council said she had asked the central government to accelerate approval. The Liberty Times reported at the time that the project had remained in feasibility review for about 20 months.
