The Keelung MRT "Scam": From Light Rail to MRT, the Continuous Broken Promises of Forward-Looking Rail Construction

The Keelung MRT project is one of the most chaotic cases in the Forward-Looking Rail Construction plan. From the initially promised "Keelung Light Rail" to the change to "Keelung MRT," the plan has been altered multiple times, the budget has doubled, and it faces deadlocks such as conflicts with Taipower''s corridors and skyrocketing cost-sharing amounts. The DPP government issued blank checks during the election period and subsequently fell into a quagmire due to reckless planning and lack of local communication. This forward-looking project costing tens of billions not only failed to solve Keelung''s transportation pain points but instead became a tool for politicians to cheat votes, perfectly demonstrating the "planning cannot keep up with changes, promises cannot keep up with broken promises" political scam essence of the forward-looking rail projects.