Taichung Metro Blue Line Reaches New Milestone: Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen Invites Citizens to Join Fitness Walk and Celebrate, While Reminding of Upcoming Air Defense Drill

With Father's Day approaching, Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen extended her blessings to all fathers worldwide during today's (4th) city council meeting, while also announcing a series of important municipal events scheduled for August. Among them, the first civil construction package of the Taichung Metro Blue Line will hold its groundbreaking blessing ceremony on August 12. To mark this milestone, the city government will host a 'Taichung Metro Blue Line Carnival – Walk for the Blue Line' public fitness walk on August 9. Additionally, the nation's first government-organized 'Taichung Battling Tops Carnival' will be held on August 30, and an Urban Resilience Air Defense Drill will take place on August 10. Mayor Lu invited citizens to actively participate and reminded them to prepare in advance.

Mayor Lu explained that the construction of the Taichung Metro Blue Line continues to progress steadily. Following the successful tendering of the electromechanical and depot packages, the first civil construction package has also been successfully awarded, covering three stations: Taichung Port Station, Wuci Elementary School Station, and TungGho Hospital Station. The groundbreaking blessing ceremony is scheduled for August 12. To celebrate this significant milestone, the Metro Engineering Bureau will organize a public fitness walk on August 9, inviting residents to wear blue clothing and walk approximately 6 kilometers along the future station route. The event will feature a blue-themed costume contest and a lucky draw, encouraging citizens to show their support for metro construction through participation.

She added that the city continues to promote the 'Cool Sports, Cool Taichung' initiative, and will host the first government-led 'Taichung Battling Tops Carnival' among the six major cities on August 30, as part of the National Sports Day celebrations. Registration is now open. With a smile, Mayor Lu said, 'I'm actually quite good at playing too,' and invited people of all ages to join in the fun, experience the excitement of battling tops, and integrate physical activity into daily life.

Furthermore, Mayor Lu reminded that the Central Region will conduct an Urban Resilience Air Defense Drill from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM on August 10. In addition to a 30-minute restriction on people and vehicles, this year will also simulate a mobile network slowdown scenario for the first time. She advised citizens to download the 'Police Service App' and 'Fire Disaster Prevention e-Tong' in advance to locate nearby air raid shelters close to their homes or workplaces. She has also instructed all city departments and district offices to pre-assess digital services and emergency response measures to ensure uninterrupted access to essential public services and protect citizens' rights.

Mayor Lu emphasized that August's activities—from the Metro Blue Line construction and public sports events to the urban resilience drill—are all closely tied to citizens' daily lives. She encouraged everyone to participate actively and stay informed, collectively witnessing Taichung's continuous progress and working together to build a healthier, safer, and more resilient city.