Cali sent a demand to Bogota’s TransMilenio mass transit system on Wednesday, requesting around 50 buses to temporary improve the city’s transport system.
Transport has been a recurring issue within the Colombian city of Cali in this month, leading to public protest. Over 2000 people protested changes to the city’s mass transit system MIO, which reduced traditional bus routes. The changes left residents at the periphery of the city with no access to public transport. One person reportedly died and at least nine more were injured during the protests.
MORE: 1 dead, 9 injured during public transport protests in Cali
Cali Mayor Rodrigo Guerrero said the request for more buses from Bogota would offer a temporary solution”We want MIO’s operators to temporary rent them [the buses] and add them to the fleet until they make the necessary investments to buy new buses, as it was agreed.”
Transmilenio spokesperson, Manuel Humeberto Gomez, confirmed that ”We have a formal request from Cali’s MIO, so that Bogota supply them with 37 smaller and bigger buses to provide services in the city of Cali,” Caracol radio reported.
The request to support Cali’s MIO is currently being evaluated by the judicial office of TransMilenio. Gomez said that ”We will have a response in eight days. They are vehicles that are no longer providing service in Bogota.”
Sources
- TransMilenio estudia alquiler de buses para el Mío de Cali (Caracol)
- Incorporación de buses de Transmilenio para reforzar el MÍO es una propuesta en estudio (Cali’s official government website)