Minister Chen Shih-kai Inspects Douliu Railway Elevation Project, Pledges to Incorporate Local Opinions

(CNA, Chiayi County, May 21, by reporter Chiang Yi-ching) The Transportation Committee of the Legislative Yuan inspected Douliu Railway Station today. Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai said that the feasibility study for the "Douliu Urban Railway Elevation Project" was approved at the end of April, and the Ministry of Transportation will continue to promote subsequent work, promising to incorporate suggestions for the Douliu Station to have both lifestyle and commercial functions. Starting in 2019, the Yunlin County Government, with a subsidy from the Ministry of Transportation, has been conducting a feasibility assessment for the elevation of the Douliu urban railway. The approximately 6-kilometer railway line in Douliu city passes through 7 level crossings, 3 overpasses, and 2 underpasses. The project is expected to dismantle 3 overpasses and set up temporary level crossings, with a total project cost exceeding NT$22 billion. The Ministry of Transportation officially approved the feasibility study report for the "Douliu Urban Railway Elevation Project" at the end of April this year. KMT Legislator Chang Chia-chun, along with the Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee, Minister of Transportation Chen Shih-kai, Railway Bureau Director-General Yang Cheng-chun, Taiwan Railways Corporation General Manager Feng Hui-sheng, and the Yunlin County Government, inspected Douliu Railway Station today. Chen Shih-kai pointed out that the railway has hindered the development of the east and west sides of Douliu, and that all parties in Yunlin, regardless of political affiliation, are concerned about the "Douliu Urban Railway Elevation Project." Since the feasibility assessment entered the central review process in 2020, it was approved on April 27 this year. The Ministry of Transportation has helped overcome key technical issues such as the radius of curvature. In the future, stages such as comprehensive planning still need to be undertaken, and everyone must work together. Chen Shih-kai stated that the Taiwan Railways Corporation has already planned for a temporary track during the elevation construction period. As for Yunlin County Magistrate Chang Li-shan's proposal for the train station to have lifestyle functions, Taiwan Railways will definitely incorporate it, so the station will not only have transportation functions but also commercial and lifestyle functions. Chang Chia-chun mentioned that the project seemed distant in the past. The seven level crossings in Douliu cause traffic jams during peak hours, and everyone has been looking forward to the railway elevation. Now, the Ministry of Transportation will send the plan to the Executive Yuan. Once the Executive Yuan approves it, it is estimated to take 11 years from comprehensive planning to completion, which will tear down the invisible wall and open up the front and rear of Douliu station. Chang Chia-chun requested that the Ministry of Transportation send a list of action items to the inspection committee members within two weeks and report to the Transportation Committee. She also expressed hope that the timeline could be shortened in the future, believing the Ministry would be happy to do so. The Legislative Yuan's Transportation Committee later inspected other transportation constructions, including the widening project of County Road 164.