《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》Legislators cast doubt on incoming health minister

PARTY POOPERS: Lawmakers across party lines voiced concerns about Chiang Been-huang’s ability to steer the beleaguered ministry safely through the food safety crisis

By Abraham Gerber/Staff reporter

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A ground-breaking ceremony held yesterday for the Taipei MRT Minsheng-Xizhi line construction project was criticized as political theater by Democratic Progressive Party （DPP） legislators, as formal plans for the line have yet to be submitted to the Executive Yuan.

Yesterday’s ground-breaking was for a preliminary construction project that will clear away trees and remove pipes and cables from the planned construction site.

However, the Taipei City Government’s Department of Rapid Transportation Systems, which is responsible for the plan, said it is yet to receive a formal proposal for the MRT extension, while the New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transportation Systems said that even after a plan is submitted and approved, design and redistricting work will need to be done before construction can formally start.

Furhtermore, even after construction starts, the line will take nine years to complete, the New Taipei City agency said.

Democratic Progressive Party Legislator （DPP） Kao Chih-peng （高志鵬） criticized the NT$14 million （US$46,000） preliminary construction project, saying the money was a trick to get voters to support New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu （朱立倫）, who is seeking re-election in the Nov. 29 nine-in-one polls.

The Minsheng-Xizhi MRT line is just one of eight such lines Chu has promised to build that have yet to receive central government approval, DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim （蕭美琴） said.

Chu said the preliminary construction demonstrates the New Taipei City Government’s determination to carry out the project, while the municipality’s Transportation Department said that clearing the site will speed construction once the plan is formally approved.

“During rush hour, more than 60,000 cars travel between Taipei and Xizhi every hour,” Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin （郝龍斌） said at the event, adding that a new MRT line is the best solution to alleviate traffic congestion.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES