Bogota faces lawsuits of over $5 million for injuries to person and property filed by various city residents over damages caused by the poor condition of the road network, reported a city official.
According to information submitted by city councilor Julio Cesar Acosta, the city’s Urban Development Institute (IDU) is currently confronting lawsuits for a sum of approximately $800,000 (COP1.4 billion) and the District Administration for $4.5 million (COP7.8 billion) for allowing the deterioration of city roads, newspaper El Espectador reported Wednesday.
Acosta expressed concern over the figure, stating that, “The multiple claims that the district is actually up against for physical injuries to the thousands of city of residents and their automobiles and motorcycles are draining the finances of the administration and as a result affecting each and every resident of the capital. These claim figures are close to COP10 billion [$5.5 million].”
According to the city official, the respective bodies already have already incurred $350,000 (COP625 million) and $565,000 (COP1 billion) each in damage fees for potholes in the roads.
Due to the high number of complaints, said Acosta, the city is creating a web page where residents can file claims regarding the poor state of the road system, so that the appropriate processes can be advanced against the administration.