Duque announced that, before leaving the presidency, he will sign the second metro line and will not leave “chimbolic checks”

Within the framework of the launch of the Bogotá Region science, technology and innovation program, promoted by the capital's mayor's office, President Iván Duque announced that, before leaving power on August 7, 2022, he will sign funding for the second metro line for the city.

In addition, the president missed no opportunity to refer to his predecessors and assured that, contrary to them, he will not take “100 years” to support the initiative to improve the capital's mass transport system.

“We are not going to wait a hundred years to have the second line. In a few months we will also be signing this co-financing agreement for the second line of the Bogotá metro, and that is also accompanied by the fact that the National Government put up the resources, secured the constitution and the Regiotram de Occidente begins next year,” he said.

He even referred to the former presidents who gave the mayors “chimbolic checks” to finance the metro, but who in the end, supposedly, never did anything. Let's remember that when Juan Manuel Santos ruled Colombia, he handed a giant cheche to the then mayor of Bogotá, Gustavo Petro.

In addition, he congratulated the administration of Mayor Claudia López and highlighted the work she did in the District to carry out the Metro.

“Our government, dear mayor Claudia López, leaves Bogotá financed by the starting act and the pre-construction process of the first metro line, and we are going to wait 100 years to have the second line of the metro,” Duque said, while giving other details of how the work that he will supposedly lead before hand over the keys to the country.

Likewise, Iván Duque named other projects in the area of transport and mobility that he will leave ready as a farewell gift for Colombians. “The studies and designs of the Regiotram del Norte are left, and apart from that the ALO Sur has already been awarded, we expect the award of two northern accesses and we leave two Mega trunks in the city with their due funding,” Duque added.

Claudia López also participated in that event, who thanked the president for the announcement of the president and said that she is confident in what was announced by the President of the Republic. “In July of this year, Mr. President, with your commitment to Bogotá, we will have the co-financing agreement that secures resources up to Suba and Engativa. There are 16 additional kilometers of metro, 11 more stations, two and a half million from Bogotá who no longer take more than two hours on average to get to their home and work,” said the mayor.

President Duque's announcements respond to recent criticism from presidential candidate Gustavo Petro of the Historical Pact, who had said that there was no progress in the city with the metro. According to the presidential candidate, the Chinese consortium that was hired for the execution of the transport system in its version, has not submitted any studies, therefore, there is no execution of this work according to the pre-candidate.

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