Damage caused by rioters to Bogota’s mass transit system amounts to $570,000, says the city’s comptroller’s office, reported financial publication Dinero.
Bogota Comptroller Diego Ardila Medina sent a warning to city mayor Gustavo Petro, giving him ten working days to respond with measures he would put into place in order to comply with his obligation to provide high quality, safe public transport.
“The absence of corrective measures brought about situations which disrupted public order and affected the budget of the district,” he said.
The riots took place on March 9 during protests over the poor performance and high ticket prices of the Transmilenio articulated bus system. Protesters blocked bus routes, and later rioters looted ticket booths and smashed glass panels in stations.
The Comptroller’s Office has evidence that the protests were ignited by, among other issues, a low frequency of buses during peak times, and routes that are inadequate for the needs of commuters, resulting in an overcrowded system.
Medina said it was essential to establish urgent alternative solutions to address the faults and guarantee the efficient operation of the system.