Money pits: HK$5 billion sought to finish Sha Tin-Central railway link from Hong Kong lawmakers
Government will ask Legco for more money to finish work on three stations, while two sections of MTR project have been hit by delays
Cost overruns continue to hit the MTR Corporation's railway projects, as it was revealed that the Sha Tin-Central Link will need about HK$5 billion more to complete construction work at three of its 10 stations.
The government said it would seek extra funding from the Legislative Council to make up the shortfall, which could not be covered by the project contingency fee after the latest cost estimate, to be submitted by the MTR by next quarter, was assessed.
The estimated construction cost for the project is about HK$79.8 billion and is funded by the government, which entrusted the MTR with construction, testing and commissioning.
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The target opening date for the Tai Wai to Hung Hom section is December 2018, while that for the Hung Hom to Admiralty section is December 2020.
But in the latest progress report filed with Legco's transport panel, the Transport and Housing Bureau said the Tai Wai to Hung Hom Section could not operate until 2019 at the earliest, while the Hung Hom to Admiralty section would be postponed to 2021, six months behind the original schedule.
Among the stations along the 17km link, the To Kwa Wan stop will need at least HK$4.1 billion more to fund the expansion of archaeological work near the site.
Expansion work at Admiralty Station requires an extra HK$1.3 billion, while construction delays at the Exhibition Station in Wan Chai will lead to an unspecified increase in building costs.