Hong Kong Approves the Northern Railway Link Project
2020-12-15 加盛工程
In line with the Hong Kong’s Vision 2030 goals, the government has given the MTR Corporation a go-ahead to plan and design the Northern Link (NOL) project. The 10.7 km MTR line is estimated to cost HK$62 billion at HK$580 million per km. The construction of the line aims at connecting the Hong Kong’s West Rail and East Rail lines.
MTR will roll out the project in two phases: Kwu Tung Station line and the NOL mainline. Phase one, which will take five years to complete, is expected to launch in 2023 and complete in 2027. Costing approximately HK$3.5 billion, this phase will feature the addition of Kwu Tung Station on the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line. Spanning from 2025 to 2034, phase two of the NOL project will cost HK$58.5 billion. It will be the future Tuen Ma Line that will connect Kwu Tung to the Kam Sheung Road Station.
Once it is completed, the Northern Link Railway will connect Kam Sheung Road Station of the West Rail to the new Kwu Tung Station of the East Rail traversing San Tin, Ngau Tam Mei and Au Tau stations. The line will act as a direct route for passengers who currently have to endure a 1h 13min travelling through Hung Hom.
With an estimated monetary return of around HK$14 billion within the first 50 years of operation, the NOL line will spur housing development in the Kwu Tung North New Development Area. The government expects that the housing and infrastructural construction projects to create 33,300 jobs. It recognizes that construction projects are the building blocks for its conceptual framework of the Vision 2030.
Seemingly, the goal of making the city the most liveable, competitive and sustainable is already taking off with great expectations. As part of this ambitious vision, the NOL project is one of the seven railway schemes in the Railway Development Strategy 2014.
The other rail projects include:
· Tuen Mun South Extension
· Tung Chung West Extension
· East Kowloon Line
· South Island Line
· North Island Line
· Hung Shui Kiu New Station
NOL is a vital construction project that will open up underutilized areas and provide new opportunities for construction firms. Upcoming towns like the planned Kwu Tung Town Centre will promote both the development of residential and commercial structures and other projects.
Other new towns that will steer growth in underdeveloped areas include Heung Yuen Wai, Ping Che, Ta Kwu Ling, Hung Lung Hang and Queen’s Hill. With all these projects focussing on key strategic growth areas and emerging development axes, for the next decade, it got to be a busy period for the Hong Kong construction industry.