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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Taiwan Tower’s swollen budget spurs graft probe
An undated artist’s rendering depicts the Taiwan Tower project in Taichung. Photo: CNA
LEGACY: Two Chinese Nationalist Party officials said Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung was attempting to taint the reputation of former mayor Jason Hu
Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung （林佳龍） yesterday referred the Taiwan Tower project to the Agency Against Corruption for investigation.
Lin said that the project, initiated by his predecessor, former Taichung mayor Jason Hu （胡志強）, involves several suspected irregularities, including a possibly illegal bidding process and a lack of budget control.
The project’s budget has been changed four times and the cost of the building’s steelwork is excessively high, the mayor said.
Lin announced his decision to suspend the project on Jan. 19, citing concerns over safety and a proposed ballooning of its NT$8 billion （US$254.7 million） budget to NT$15 billion.
In response to the allegations, Chinese Nationalist Party （KMT） Taichung City Council caucus whip Yang Cheng-chung （楊正中） said most of the problems mentioned by the mayor have been discussed previously by the city council.
He said Hu did not approve the proposed budget increase and accused Lin of tarnishing his predecessor’s reputation.
Another KMT caucus whip, Lee Chung （李中）, said that it is normal to have minor adjustments in such a large project.
If the mayor thinks there are problems, “why doesn’t he just report the case to prosecutors?” Lee said.
Hu’s office declined to comment when asked.
The planned 318m-tall building had been intended to be a landmark for the central city.
Designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto, who won an international competition in 2011 to draw up plans for the building, Taiwan Tower’s ornate steel structure is inspired by the trunk of a banyan tree.
The tower is to be built on a 4.4-hectare plot and is billed as “the Taiwanese version of the Eiffel Tower.” If completed, it will be home to an observation platform, restaurants and environmental quality monitoring stations, the city government said.
Construction has yet to begin on the project, planned for the Taichung Gateway economic and trade park.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
