Hou accuses DPP of 'intentionally blocking' Taichung MRT extension

Taichung, Dec. 24 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) presidential nominee Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) on Sunday pledged to extend the Taichung MRT to two neighboring KMT-controlled municipalities, claiming the plan had been "intentionally blocked" by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

At a campaign rally in Taichung, central Taiwan, Hou accused the DPP-controlled central government of refusing to fund an extension of the city's blue line to Changhua and Nantou due to "party differences."

The New Taipei mayor called on people to vote for himself and the KMT in January to "win back the country" while also pledging to complete the extension for "the prosperity and future of central Taiwan."

Hou was joined at Sunday's rally by Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕), Changhua County Magistrate Wang Huei-mei (王惠美) and Yunlin Magistrate Chang Li-shan (張麗善).

Although the Cabinet approved plans for the blue line extension during then-DPP Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-lung's (林佳龍) tenure in 2018, it rejected a revised proposal submitted after the KMT's Lu took office.

Commenting on the issue in November, DPP presidential nominee Lai Ching-te (賴清德) noted that he had approved the original proposal while serving as premier.

However, Lai, the incumbent vice president, said the revised proposal changed many parts of the originally approved plan, including the locations of future MRT stations, and also requested an extra NT$63.3 billion in budget.

"We do support the extension project, but the city government needs to take responsibility for coming up with a more feasible plan," Lai said.