Since he was mayor of Bogotá, Petro has defended that the system should be underground to reduce the impact on the capital, Transportation Minister Guillermo Reyes told Blu Radio.
The contract for more than US$4 billion for the construction of the first metro line in the capital was awarded in 2019 by the then mayor Enrique Peñalosa, who succeeded Petro. Peñalosa favored an aboveground system, which is now in the early stages of construction.
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Authorities are evaluating the changes, which include making part of the system run underground as well as adding an additional 3.9 kilometers to it, Reyes said. The additional funds would come from the nation’s budget, not the city’s, and would extend construction time by up to five years, he added.
The consortium met with Petro and Bogotá mayor Claudia López on Wednesday to present five alternatives.
Of these, they recommend building the additional underground extension of 3.9 km, for reasons of “technical and legal feasibility”López told reporters. The consortium advises against Petro’s proposals.
The group of companies building the Bogotá metro includes China Harbor Engineering Co., Xi’An Metro Co. and Canada-based plane and train maker Bombardier Inc.
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Source: Gestion
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