Bogotá to stick with elevated metro line, confirms mayor

Bogotá mayor Carlos Fernando Galán has rejected President Gustavo Petro's proposal to have an underground section on line No. 1 of Colombia's first metro system, stating that it is "legally impossible and technically unfeasible."

The current designs for the project, which is estimated to cost US$4.77bn, are based on an elevated line, so construction will go ahead as established in the contract, Galán said in broadcast comments.

Last week, Petro publicly insisted that an underground section should be included in the east of the capital.

“Legally, it's not possible to change the contract as proposed by the president. There is a contract signed and being carried out [and] we're going to fulfill the contract,” Galán said on Monday evening.

The mayor added that the city has already invested around 2.9tn pesos (US$745mn), which would be wasted if the project is changed. These investments include some 542bn pesos to purchase land and alter utility networks on Avenida Caracas, where Petro wants part of the underground section to run.

Galán also said that the changes suggested by the president would delay the start of commercial operations of the line by at least four years. It is currently slated to start running in 2028.

Bogotá has a contract to build the metro that has been signed and financed, and in which two national governments participated. It is also supported by multilateral financing institutions, is underway and progress has reached 31%, said the mayor.

The works are being carried out by Chinese state-owned companies China Harbour Engineering and Xi’An Rail Transportation Group.

Galán recalled that when Petro was mayor of Bogotá (2012-15) he wanted to build an underground metro, but he was unable to secure the necessary financing or structuring to put it out to tender.

“We're not going to exchange certainties for uncertainty. We're moving forward with the subway, not one step backward,” Galán said.

The mayor invited President Petro to look to the future, towards a metro system that has five or six. He also called on citizens "to advocate for the work," which he said was the most important infrastructure for the city.