The mayor of Bogota, Clara Lopez, accused the minister of transportation of putting “obstacles” in front of the effort to construct a new metro system Tuesday.
Lopez said that she was worried about the transportation department putting “sticks in the wheel” regarding plans for the city to build a metro system. The Minister of Transportation German Cardona announced early Tuesday that work on the metro would cease until a definitive plan for its construction emerged. There are currently many different plans, each supported by a different candidate for mayor.
The mayor objected to Cardona’s decision saying it was made unilaterally without consulting her office. “The statement to the press by the minister of transportation is not the way to communicate decisions,” said Lopez. “They have been taken unilaterally by the government, without any discussion with the city government.”
Lopez noted that the idea of a Bogota metro has the support of the Santos administration. “It is worth noting that the president’s office has expressed its determination to make the metro a reality for the benefit of Bogota,” said the mayor.
Cardona has stated that the work will begin after the fall elections when Bogota has a new mayor. He has said that he hopes the closure will only last six months.