Chiayi Anliao Social Housing Construction Suspended for Earthwork Review and Safety

Since last year, the National Social Housing and Urban Regeneration Center has been promoting the "Anliao Haoshi" social housing project in Chiayi City, aiming to provide a safe, comfortable, and affordable living environment for low- and middle-income households. Located in the Anliao District of Chiayi City, the project was originally scheduled for completion early this year and is expected to accommodate about 300 households. It seeks to enhance the quality of life in the area through land reuse and community greening. The Chiayi City Government and the National Social Housing and Urban Regeneration Center signed a cooperative agreement and hired a major turnkey contractor to handle civil engineering and structural construction, with an overall project budget of approximately NTD 300 million.

However, after the project entered the earthwork excavation and removal stage, the turnkey contractor encountered multiple technical difficulties. Because the construction site is located in an area densely packed with old underground pipelines, the earthwork removal process requires ensuring the stability of underground structures and the safety of surrounding roads. Furthermore, the presence of old utility and underground pipelines beneath the construction ground poses high safety risks to the project—which has been suspended for months—if improperly handled, potentially causing pipeline ruptures or the subsidence of underground structures. Additionally, limited space for earthwork storage within urban Chiayi City has resulted in multiple trips for earthwork removal, further delaying the progress.

Facing these challenges, the National Social Housing and Urban Regeneration Center officially stated today that it will continue to urge the turnkey contractor to complete critical engineering items such as diaphragm walls to ensure the safety of earthwork removal and the stability of underground structures. At the same time, the Center is strengthening coordination with Chiayi City civil engineers, the underground pipeline administration bureau, and relevant competent authorities to formulate a more rigorous earthwork handling plan. This move aims not only to prevent project delays but also to avoid environmental and safety accidents caused by improper earthwork storage, thereby ensuring the living quality of future residents upon moving in.

This suspension and adjustment may temporarily extend the waiting time for some social housing applicants among local residents, and could even impact low-income households already lined up for allocation. From a long-term perspective, however, the rigorous handling and multi-party coordination by the National Social Housing and Urban Regeneration Center can prevent greater costs and risks resulting from construction negligence. On the political front, this case has also drawn attention from local councilors and social groups regarding the execution capability and transparency of the National Social Housing and Urban Regeneration Center, with hopes that construction progress can be advanced as quickly as possible while ensuring safety and quality, thereby reducing the supply gap in social housing.

Looking at the big picture, the smooth advancement of the "Anliao Haoshi" project will bring new social housing resources to Chiayi City, improve the regional living environment, and provide practical experience for the implementation of national housing policies. The continuous supervision and multi-party coordination by the National Social Housing and Urban Regeneration Center demonstrate its responsibility and professionalism in handling public engineering risks and ensuring construction quality. If earthwork removal and structural construction can be swiftly completed in the future under the premise of ensuring safety and stability, it will inject new momentum into Taiwan's social housing sector.