Hong Kong transport authorities cut estimated cost of controversial T4 road by 5% to HK$6.81 billion after questions raised over price tag
- Transport and Logistics Bureau submits revised funding request over Trunk Road T4 to the legislature’s Finance Committee
- Bureau abruptly withdrew original request for HK$7.16 billion more than a month ago
Hong Kong authorities have slashed the estimated cost of a controversial trunk road project by nearly 5 per cent to HK$6.81 billion after lawmakers raised concerns over a significant rise in the price tag.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau on Friday submitted a revised funding request concerning Trunk Road T4, designed to connect Ma On Shan to the Tsing Sha Highway and Shing Mun Tunnel Road, to the legislature’s Finance Committee.
It abruptly withdrew its original request for HK$7.16 billion more than a month ago.
It was speculated that the request would not receive enough votes, with legislators raising concerns and noting the cost was six times the original HK$1.1 billion estimate in 2006.
“After considering lawmakers’ views, the Civil Engineering and Development Department has revised the proposed scope of works, estimated construction cost and cash flow on the premise that it will not affect the functionality of this project,” the paper issued by the bureau said.
“[The funding request] has been revised from HK$7.16 billion to HK$6.81 billion in a bid to address lawmakers’ concerns about its construction costs.”