Chief Executive Chui Sai On said on Wednesday that the government would learn its lesson from the setbacks in the construction of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system in Taipa for the still unscheduled LRT project on the peninsula.
The Taipa section of the LRT, the construction of which started in 2011, has been hit by a string of technical, scheduling and budgeting issues.
Chui made the remarks while speaking to reporters at the airport before departing for a working visit to Beijing, when asked by the media about the recent proposal by three lawmakers that the government axe its plan to construct the LRT on the peninsula
The trio proposed the construction of a monorail along the peninsula’s coastline instead.
Chui said that while the government respected the opinions of the three lawmakers, its plan to build the LRT system had always included the peninsula.
“Of course, we will study any suggestions made by any lawmakers”, Chui said, adding he believed the government will announce its final decision on the LRT route on the peninsula at the end of this year.
“The government always makes decisions based on scientific evidence and residents’ opinions,” Chui said.
When asked by reporters how the government could ensure that the LRT construction on the peninsula will not experience cost overruns and delays as for LRT project in Taipa, Chui said the government had learnt its lesson from the setbacks in the LRT construction in Taipa to avoid the same problems with the LRT construction on the peninsula.
“We hope that the LRT construction [on the peninsula] will be completed [as scheduled] if we decide to go ahead with the plan,” Chui said.
“We will carefully evaluate how much money will be needed [for the LRT construction on the peninsula]. Over the past seven years, I haven’t mentioned anything about how much it will be expected to cost [for the LRT construction on the peninsula],” Chui said
“Only after the completion of the construction plans can we make an evaluation on how much it is expected to cost [to build the LRT system on the peninsula].” Chui said.
“It would be irresponsible for the government to announce the cost evaluation prematurely,” Chui said.
The Taipa segment of the LRT, which already has cost the government over 10 billion patacas, is slated to be operational in 2019.
(Macau News / The Macau Post Daily)
