Luis Pedro Batres, general manager of the Xochi Corridor project, referred this Monday, June 8, in an interview with Free Press Radioto the situation of the project, which has been affected by the lack of an extension of the license by the Municipality of Mazatenango, Suchitepéquez.
The highway is scheduled to be inaugurated on June 14; However, in the Mazatenango section, banners have been installed that read: “Work cancelled”, which has caused reactions in the business sector, which calls for legal certainty and affirms that this project promotes the development of Guatemala.
“Yes, in fact, we are ready to open on June 14, now to the public. We have complied with the entire framework of the law, with all the municipal regulations that exist, we have not ignored any of that and the municipality has been requesting additional information from us that does not correspond,” said Batres.
He added: “As a result of that, these problems have arisen and they have sent a cancellation of work.”
He indicated that, in the company’s opinion, the cancellation of the work is not valid and reiterated that they have complied with all the regulations and standards, and that they are in compliance with the law; Furthermore, they have fully complied with each of the required points.
“Us Yes, we have planned to open on the 14th and we are quite sure that this, over the course of these days, will be resolved. We are open to dialogue and to be able to resolve it in a way, of course, that complies with the law, but we are very positive that these days this will be resolved,” he announced.
He said that it is a 100% private highway, so they have complied with the regulations required by the municipality for construction licenses, which they have done fully.
He recalled that the previous municipal administration granted them the license and that this administration granted them the extension. He added that they requested a second renewal two months in advance and that they asked for additional information, so they are ready to comply with what is required within the framework of the law.
He indicated that the project covers 31 kilometers that cross six municipalities: five from Suchitepéquez and one from Retalhuleu.
“We have been building for approximately two and a half years and we have seen the economic impact that the area has had. There has been growth, especially the section where we passed was an 85% agricultural section, and the opening of this highway will cause this urban growth to migrate towards the south of these communities, and we do see that it has a great impact not only on the area, but on the country,” he highlighted.
Batres added that the route to the southwest is one of the most important in the country, where much of the trade that comes or goes to Mexico, El Salvador, the capital or the ports passes.
He stressed that, in that sense, it is important that this highway expedite the passage of commerce that does not have a destination in the area, but only transits through it.
He explained that the idea is to relieve the route to the southwest by capturing 30% of the traffic that circulates on that road.
He stressed that this project model is innovative and creative and that they have around 700 investors, of which approximately 115 are from the area. In addition, they have democratized capital so that Guatemalans can invest in these types of projects.
He said that, given the actions of the commune, they have presented several protections to the corresponding entities and that this process continues.
When asked if the municipality has jurisdiction over the southwestern route with which the project connects, Batres responded no, since the jurisdiction corresponds directly to the Department of Roads of the Ministry of Communications and the project has all the connection permits to that national route.
He highlighted that they have been granted permission to use the right of way for the construction of the road distributors that connect Xochi with the CA-2 West.
Batres reported that they are fine-tuning the placement of horizontal and vertical signage, as well as signs with safety regulations, speed limits, mileage and distances to the entrances and exits of the project, so that 98% of the work will be completed by the inauguration.
To read more: Xochi case tests legal certainty and sends warning signals to investors
“Unfortunately, this situation last week and the one we are experiencing with the Municipality of Mazatenango did not allow us to conclude the road safety part, specifically in the jurisdiction of Mazatenango, which is 2.7 kilometers, where the works stopped and we have not been able to conclude, but we were ready to operate at 100% on the 14th,” he said.
He stated: “We are still going to open on the 14th with security measures to be able to complete in this time the few works that we need, but those are, let’s say, complementary to the road. Today you can circulate on the 31 kilometer stretch.”
He clarified that the Xochi Corridor is not a public work, but a private one, although for common use.
He explained that the PAC Xochi or any electronic means available on the market could be used to establish offers or promotions for registered users that may exist in Suchitepéquez or Retalhuleu, especially the most frequent ones, in order to provide them with certain benefits.
“On the side of our investors we have received the full support of everyone in being able to open the project and to the Guatemalan population I invite you on June 14 to come and see this incredible project that, with a lot of effort, a lot of dedication and a lot of care we have carried out and that you will see that it is a first-world work. It will be surrounded by trees, vegetation, everything,” Batres highlighted.
“More than a road, we have always wanted this to be a walk and that is what we invite the entire population to come and discover this great project that is 100% Guatemalan and with pure Guatemalan intelligence,” he assured.
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