Construction of Taichung Metro's Blue Line to start June 26

Taipei, June 17 (CNA) Construction of the Taichung Metro's Blue Line will start on June 26, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) said Tuesday.

At a news conference, Lu said the Taichung Metro's Green Line will offer free rides that day to commemorate the groundbreaking.

The new line will begin at the Port of Taichung and move eastward through Shalu and Xitun districts before arriving in central Taichung, according to the city government.

The planned 20-station, NT$161.51 billion (US$5.17 billion) Blue Line will intersect with the Green Line at Taichung City Hall Station, and is expected to open to the public in 2034.

Meanwhile, the search continues for the 50 millionth rider of the Taichung Metro, who is eligible for a prize of two Starlux business class round-trip tickets from Taichung to any destination in Asia.

The rider rode the metro on June 9, but their card was not registered in Taichung's system, leaving their identity unknown.

The rider was using an iPass card numbered 35000104351, according to the Taichung Mass Rapid Transit Corporation.

(By Hao Hsueh-ching and Wu Kuan-hsien)

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