Colombia takes steps to unblock US$500mn light rail project

Colombia’s government will adopt the necessary measures to unblock the technical and environmental aspects that keep the US$543mn Regiotram de Occidente light rail project in the Bogotá area halted, according to officials.

That is according to transport minister William Camargo, who was speaking after a meeting led by President Gustavo Petro and in which Bogotá mayor Carlos Fernando Galán and Cundinamarca department governor Jorge Emilio Rey, among other authorities, also participated. 

Last April, environmental authority ANLA rejected the environmental license request for the project and in October Concesionaria Férrea de Occidente, which is behind the initiative, resubmitted the application.

The environment ministry has issued a decree allowing ANLA to resolve environmental licensing issues that have suspended the project, Camargo said at the end of the meeting.

Rey said the mechanisms adopted will help ensure that the Regiotram de Occidente, the Regiotram del Norte and all the country's railway systems do not require environmental licensing.

The decree will be opened to public comment this week and within a month the light rail projects will not require the environmental license, according to officials, although it was not clear exactly what the new permitting requirements will be.