Govt. to provide US$48mn for Transcaribe

Colombia's government is to provide 137bn pesos (US$48mn) towards the construction of a mass public transit system, known as Transcaribe, in the city of Cartagena, SNE the state news agency reports. The Transcaribe system, labelled the "Transmilenio" of Cartagena will consist of a 14km trunk road with 23 stations from the El Amparo district to the Bocagrande tourist sector. A bidding process for the construction contract will be launched in April 2004 and works should begin before end-June. A total of 344bn pesos (US$121mn) is expected to be invested in the system that will be furnished by the nation (137bn), the city (91.6bn) and private investors (115bn). The national government will fund infrastructure construction, the city will buy the land, and private investors will purchase vehicles and equipment for the stations. Earlier this month Cartagena municipality included 11bn pesos (US$4mn) for Transcaribe in its 2004 budget. The Cartagena Transcaribe would be the fourth mass urban transport program to enjoy national government assistance after similar programs for Bogota, Cali and Pereira. Other such programs are planned for Bucaramanga, Barranquilla, Medellin and Soacha, according to the newspaper.