Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday said that the stalling progress of the MRT railway system’s line servicing Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is the result of large corporations refusing to release plots of land they own, which has resulted in the route following a meandering path, hampering construction.
Ko made the remarks at a forum with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislative candidate Luo Chih-cheng (羅致政), where the two discussed current issues and the potential effect first-time voters will have on the Jan. 16 polls.
When asked about the plausibility of plans espoused by the Taipei City Government to eliminate Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) and merge it with Taoyuan airport, Ko said the annual passenger volume at Songshan airport is not very large, totaling about 6 million travelers last year.
He questioned the need to build an MRT line from Taipei Railway Station to Taoyuan airport as part of New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu’s (朱立倫) yet-to-be-honored pledge to build “three rings and three lines,” which involves the construction of a series of MRT lines and light-rail systems.
“If the Taiwan High Speed Rail’s Taoyuan Station had been built 5km west of its location, would there still be a need to build the MRT’s airport line?” Ko asked.
He criticized the decisionmaking process behind the construction of the Taoyuan airport line, saying it failed to take land owned by corporations into consideration.
“The facts are clear. Why is the MRT airport line still unfinished? Because it has too many stations. Will people really be able to get to the airport [from Taipei Railway Station] in 35 minutes?” Ko said, adding that he thinks a 35-minute commute would still be somewhat lengthy.
Ko said it is evident from the route’s plan that corporations with plots of land along the line refused to let the government expropriate them, because they are waiting for their value to increase.
“Everyone knows if it is right or wrong, but no one has the courage to point it out, to show everyone else that it is wrong. Society today sees something that is wrong, but it does not know how to correct it,” Ko said.
Luo said Songshan airport is bound to be deficient for two reasons: operations are prohibited after 11pm; and it is mainly responsible for handling flights between Taiwan and China.
“It also provides the president with a shortcut should he need to flee the nation,” Ko added, prompting laughter from the audience.
When asked to elaborate, Ko confirmed that he was referring to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).
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