Xinyi Line East Extension ceiling collapse before inspection? MRT Bureau clarifies timeline

Taipei's Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced that the Xinyi Line East Extension of the MRT is targeted for an August opening, but a recent incident has raised questions about construction quality.

City Councilor Hung Chien-yi revealed that the ceiling at the Guangci/Fengtian Palace station experienced a significant water leak, described as a "waterfall." He questioned whether the Taipei City government rushed to submit an inspection application to the Ministry of Transportation before the issue was fully resolved.

Responding to the allegations, the MRT Engineering Bureau clarified the sequence of events. The bureau stated that on July 5th, a cleaning company, contracted by the construction firm, used an excessive amount of water while cleaning the station's concourse. This led to water seeping through gaps around the escalator and stair openings, accumulating on the ceiling of the platform below, causing a partial collapse and leakage.

The bureau emphasized that this was an isolated incident caused by human error during cleaning, not a flaw in the station's structural safety or waterproofing design. They confirmed that gap-filling measures were completed by July 10th to prevent recurrence, and the application for inspection was submitted to the Ministry of Transportation on July 13th. The bureau also stated that future cleaning procedures will involve using equipment that simultaneously vacuums water, avoiding excessive water use, and that management and inspection mechanisms for cleaning operations during construction will be strengthened.