A debate over the extension of Kaohsiung's MRT system has arisen in southern Taiwan, with some arguing that its low ridership will not justify the investment. But the City Government defended the project by highlighting its potential contribution to the development of the region.

Politicians across the party lines attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kangshan MRT station, where Premier Wu Den-yih even promised to push for the extension project of the Luchu line, which has been in the works for 9 years.

Kaohsiung City Government plans to submit its proposal again to the Ministry of Transportation in August.

According to the City Government's evalution, the Luchu line will increase the daily ridership number by 59,000 each day.

Plus, the daily ridership of the green and the orange line, that is around 140,000.

The total ridership could exceed 200,000.

But this is only half of what the MRT system needs to keep the balance between operational costs and sales revenue in sync.

Observers worry the Kaohsiung City may face a more serious financial crisis for the new MRT project.

In its defense, the MRT bureau believes the revenue is just one fifth of the overall benefits while the rest is to stimulate neighborhood development and attract more investors in Kaohsiung.

It will plan the third MRT line by the end of this year, which will go through the most populated Sanmin district in the city and pass major hospitals and reach the Chengching lake.

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