The Ministry of Transportation and Communications' (MOTC) Directorate General of Highways has already completed 210 kilometers of roadways and 4.15 million square meters of new road space under its six-year (2009-2014) plan to construct road networks among living perimeters, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today.
The premier made these remarks after a briefing by the transportation ministry on the plan's progress. Jiang stated that the project, which had a six-year budget of NT$26 billion (US$865 million), has enhanced transport efficiency, generated jobs for over 20,000 people, reduced travel costs and traffic accidents, minimized air pollution and generated comfort and convenience for the public.
The MOTC added that the project has built up road networks and widened roads, generated a net present value of NT$22.5 billion (US$748.6 million) in transportation, created jobs for 21,484 people in urban industries, saved NT$36.8 billion (US$1.22 billion) in energy and carbon emissions by reducing travel time, and added 1.96 million square meters of road space in remote areas to balance urban and rural development.
Road networks are the mainstay of inter-city transport, Jiang said. Whether transporting industrial commodities, commuting to school or work, delivering medical relief, undertaking tourism or travel, or conducting disaster prevention and rescue, one's efficacy is dependent on the road system. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to build a comprehensive road network to boost the overall development of a living perimeter or community, the premier emphasized.
As for related follow-up plans, Jiang enjoined the MOTC to carry out scrupulous review and evaluation mechanisms and take the initiative to coordinate with the Ministry of the Interior, Council of Agriculture and other related ministries so as to make the best allocation and use of resources for road construction, reduce rural-urban disparity, and in coordination with the government's industrial policy help build a comprehensive road network that will raise the living standards of the whole citizenry.