Taiwan’s central government has announced a plan to reduce the financial burden on the Keelung City government for a new mass rapid transit (MRT) line extending to Taipei City.
According to Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦) the central government will reduce the share of Keelung City’s contributions by NT$580 million (US$18 million) compared to initial plans. Additionally, the central government will establish a development fund for the MRT which is expected to generate as much as NT$4 billion (US$126 million) for the project.
The planned MRT line will connect Keelung City to existing Taipei MRT stations in Nangang District. Zheng says the planning process should be finished in October, and the first stage of the MRT line includes 13 stations and will be completed by 2032.
Zheng adds that the industrial area around Baochangkeng in the Xizhi District will be turned into an R&D center, and urban development should be proposed for each of the 13 stations. Zheng has asked the Keelung City Government to submit their proposal for these projects as soon as possible.