Huang I-chung, director of the KRTC's Public Affairs Department, attributed the expected increase largely to rising commodity prices and electricity rates.

The forecast increase will bring the KRTC's annual expenses to nearly NT$5 billion, Huang said.

Yen Pang-chieh, general manager of the KRTC, which operates the southern port city's MRT system, said in a report to a Kaohsiung City Council committee meeting that the company's annual expenses currently stand at NT$4.59 billion, with personnel, debt service and depreciation expenses ranking as the three main expenditures.

According to the KRTC's budget, the company's annual expenses of NT$4.59 billion include NT$1.58 billion as depreciation expenses, NT$1.06 on personnel, NT$1 billion on debt service, NT$520 million on water and electricity, NT$230 million on maintenance, and NT$200 million on insurance.