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The Bogotá metro is due to start running in 2026 after Bogotá City Council approved a proposed agreement to fund the construction of the Colombian capital ' s first metro line.
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Colombia’ s USD4.3-billion Bogotá metro plan is taking shape as the project has won development bank finance. A number of international development banks have agreed to provide funding for the development of the metro in the capital city. The World Bank is to provide USD70-million as part of the USD600-million requested by the government of Colombia to build a viaduct and carry out technical studies for the project. The remaining USD530-million will be made available for future operations.
The Inter-American Development Bank and the European Investment Bank( EIB) have also agreed to finance the scheme. The first 24km line of the metro will be built in the south-west of the city, on a raised earthquake-proof track. Its 23 trains will pass through 15 stations, each with a capacity of 1 800 passengers. The metro project is part of Bogotá’ s 2016 – 19 Municipal Development Plan, including linking the bus system to the metro and 14km of cycle paths.
The EIB has made a USD480-million loan under its Climate Action and Environment Facility, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and pollution by promoting public transport. It is the first time the EU bank is financing a project in the public sector in Colombia, supporting a large-scale piece of infrastructure that will have major economic and social benefits for the people.
Earlier this year, Colombian officials visited London, looking for partners to build, operate, and part-finance the metro; last year it was announced Systra would design it. The metro is due to start running in 2026. Bogotá City Council has approved a proposed agreement to fund the construction of the Colombian capital ' s first metro line, more than 70 years after plans were first put forward.
Bogotá has a fast-growing population of more than eight million, but its deficient public transportation network is leading to major traffic problems. Bogotans are currently battling some of the worst traffic in the world. Last year, traffic data agency INRIX ranked the city as being among the 15 worst capitals for traffic in the world. Politics has stalled the need to upgrade the Bogotá Metro. In September 2017, Colombia’ s National Political-Economic and Social Committee( CONPES) approved a proposal for the national government to finance 70 % of the planned above-ground metro system.
With the commissioning date set for 2022, Bogotá’ s current mayor, Enrique Peñalosa, promised that by the year 2030, 80 % of Bogotá’ s citizens will have a mass transit line, metro, or trunk lines less than a kilometre away.
According to Systra, the transport planning consultancy selected for the project, the chosen viaduct will allow for a quicker building schedule, while the network’ s design will have to also take into account the highly seismic context of the capital. Colombia’ s most seismic place, Mesa de los Santos, which experiences some 40 tremors each day, is less than 400km away from Bogotá.
Calculating the overall reduction in commuting times, pollution and accidents caused by private cars, supporters estimate that for each peso invested, 1.21 pesos will be returned.
The choice of a controversial elevated line means it would be 28 % cheaper to operate, while the construction time would be reduced from 66 to 40 months. The risks associated with digging underneath Bogotá were also found to be too high to justify, due to the need to excavate under bodies of water and the desiccation of the soil.
14- CEC October 2018