Control Yuan censures Taipei transit dept. for post-quake line damage

Taipei, March 13 (CNA) The Control Yuan on Tuesday censured the Taipei City Government Department of Rapid Transit Systems for damage on the Circular Line after a major earthquake on April 3, 2024.

Control Yuan members Jao Yung-ching (趙永清) and Yeh Yi-jin (葉宜津) said at a Thursday press conference that different degrees of liability should be assumed by the competent authority, authority in charge, construction supervisor, architectural designers and construction contractor.

The case arose after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Taiwan and caused box girders to disconnect at 11 spots on the line, damaged railway lines and 139 devices, resulting in suspension of operations between the Line's Banqiao and Zhonghe stations for eight months.

The top government watchdog stated that the severe damage was caused by BES Engineering Corporation's failure to adhere to the approved blueprint.

It urged authorities to seek compensation in accordance with the contract and to hold the company accountable for endangering public safety.

The Control Yuan also found that the construction supervisor, the Taipei rapid transit department's first construction division, did not oversee the project in compliance with regulations. The department also failed to fulfill its responsibility for second-level quality control, which led to severe damage, the Control Yuan said.

The Control Yuan said that it will follow up on subsequent compensation matters to ensure the public's rights are upheld.

It said that the quality of public construction is crucial to public safety and urged relevant institutions to learn from this case to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Chen Chien-hung (陳建宏), who heads the Taipei rapid transit department's first construction division, responded on Thursday that the department and division did carry out their quality control responsibilities, with verifiable documentation.

Meanwhile, New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) said that the city has hired lawyers to prepare for a lawsuit against BES Engineering.

Chen said that Taipei will also file a lawsuit against the company at the end of March.

The two cities will ask for a total of NT$1.927 billion (US$58.42 million) from the company.