《TAIPEI TIMES》 Donghu-Sijhih MRT line gets green light

KEELUNG LINK: New Taipei City is braced for funding and contracting challenges, an official said, as the line is planned to link with another MRT project in the north

By Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNA

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The Executive Yuan on Friday approved a six-station Mass Rapid Transit （MRT） line from Taipei’s Donghu （東湖） area to New Taipei City’s Sijhih District （汐止） in an effort to ease traffic congestion on roads heading to Keelung from the greater Taipei area.

The Executive Yuan is setting aside NT$27.84 billion （US$916.18 million） to fund the project, Premier Su Tseng-chang （蘇貞昌） said.

The new line should lessen traffic in Sijhih District and connect to another planned line in Keelung, which is expected to begin construction later this year, according to the New Taipei City Department of Rapid Transit Systems.

The department is ready to begin designing and planning the route, Construction Division Deputy Director-General Chen Chih-ming （鄭智銘） said.

Funding challenges are expected, and securing deals with companies that have urban construction experience could be difficult, as many are occupied with other projects, Chen said.

New Taipei City is to focus on planning and administration of the project until bidding takes place, at which time contractors might have openings in their schedules, he added.

The department also urged the Executive Yuan to expedite approval of construction efforts for the Keelung and Minsheng-Sijhih MRT lines, which would connect Keelung, New Taipei City and Taipei.

The department said that the Donghu-Sijhih MRT line is expected to cost NT$37.69 billion.

Although Keelung is expected to shoulder NT$9.8 billion of the total cost as per a standing agreement, the central government agreed that the same amount would be deferred, with New Taipei City shouldering NT$22.05 billion, while the central government subsidizes NT$5.76 billion, the department said.

New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi （侯友宜） on Friday wrote on Facebook that the municipality is ready to realize the expectations of Sijhih residents after two decades, and that New Taipei City is working with the central government to bring about prosperity for the greater Taipei region.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES