Current costs for the Taipa section of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the superstructure work of the section’s depot have already reached MOP9.2 billion (US$1.2 billion) – of the estimated MOP11 billion budget – the government told the follow-up committee for land and public concession affairs of the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday.
According to the chairman of the committee, Ho Ion Sang, the amount was calculated by the government based upon estimates. That also suggests an increase in the costs for the projects compared to the estimated recorded costs of MOP8 billion one year ago.
Following the meeting, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raimundo Arrais do Rosário said that the government’s current priorities are to complete the Taipa LRT and the depot by the end of 2019, develop the route’s connection to Macau Peninsula and initiate preparation works for the Seac Pai Van line.
Secretary Rosario also said it ‘was too early’ to discuss fares for the LRT.
However, Legislator Ho said committee members are concerned that the Taipa section of the LRT will incur ‘large costs’ for Macau and the government as the infrastructure will not have any other sources of revenue apart from ticket sales.
The government official also denied yesterday that the future public company responsible for the LRT metro system and its management would be set up via a partnership between the private and the public sector.