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The Executive Council has given the green light for further planning and detailed design of the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) West Island Line (WIL).
A government spokesman said today (October 23) that the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) would be asked to proceed with further planning and detailed design of the WIL project, which will involve the extension of the existing MTR Island Line from Sheung Wan to Kennedy Town with two intermediate stations at Sai Ying Pun and the University of Hong Kong.
The proposed railway line will provide a fast, convenient and reliable means of public transport between Sheung Wan and Kennedy Town. The extension of the MTR network to Kennedy Town will enable residents in Western District to have direct access to the MTR network, saving time for interchange from road transport to the railway network.
"As Western has been fully developed, there are serious constraints in constructing any new roads or widening existing ones to alleviate the congestion. An underground railway is a more feasible way to improve traffic conditions in the district," the spokesman said.
"The proposed railway line routes through the main population and employment centres in Western District. It is estimated that by 2016, the residential population within the catchment areas served by the three new stations at Sai Ying Pun, the University of Hong Kong and Kennedy Town will reach 140,000, whereas the employment population will reach 60,000."
The spokesman pointed out that with the new railway line, passengers could travel from Kennedy Town to Sheung Wan in eight minutes, compared to 15 to 25 minutes by using road transport during peak hours.
The current scheme will also provide convenient pedestrian passages between the Western Mid-levels and the Des Voeux Road West areas through the unpaid zones within the station premises, thus helping reduce road traffic congestion. As an additional traffic route cutting short travelling time to other districts, the WIL will promote more economic activities and redevelopment, and will provide impetus for rejuvenation of the Western District, thus bringing great economic benefits.
"The WIL project is not financially viable just based on fare revenue. For this particular railway project, the Government will bridge the funding gap by providing a capital grant to the MTRCL. Funding proposal will be submitted to the Finance Committee for approval. It has to be emphasised that the mode of funding support for railway projects will be considered on a case-by-case basis," the spokesman said.
The Government will proceed with the gazetting of the WIL railway scheme later and will negotiate with the MTRCL on the detailed scope, cost and implementation programme. It is expected that construction of the WIL will start in 2009 for completion by 2013-2014.
Ends/Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:56
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