Taiwan’s Cabinet has approved a plan to construct a new line on the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT) system, Premier Su Tseng-chang (???) announced Sunday, with the city’s government saying that construction of the line will begin before the end of this year.

The plan to build the 22.91-kilometer Yellow Line cleared the Executive Yuan on Friday, Su said during an inspection tour in the southern port city.

As a result, the city government said Sunday it would begin the design and preparation work for the construction of the new line. Construction is set to begin later this year with the line expected to open by the end of 2028.

The project has been allocated a total budget of NT$144.2 billion (US$5.08 billion), with the central government being responsible for NT$83.38 billion and the rest to be covered by the Kaohsiung City government.

The proposed Yellow Line will connect two existing KMRT lines, the Red and Orange, as well as a light-rail system and railway station, according to Kaohsiung City’s Mass Rapid Transit Bureau.

With a total of 23 stations planned, the new line will travel through the city’s Niaosong (??), Sanmin (??), Lingya (??), Sinsing (??), Fongshan (??), and Chienchen (??) districts and serve 1.16 million people, roughly 41.8 percent of the city’s total population, the bureau said.

The line is also expected to pass through neighborhoods with three universities and seven junior and senior high and vocational schools, the bureau added.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel