Although the works of the First Line of the Bogotá Metro have been advancing within the schedule and every end of the month there are reports that show that the megaproject is closer to being put into operation. entered a decisive pointin which all components need to begin to finish.
The execution began in 2026 with 80 percent and the Bogotá Metro Company (EMB) I expected that after a year it would reach 90 percent. However, that goal is not going to be met. According to Leonidas Narvaezmanager of the Metro Company, as of September 30, the overall progress is 83.73 percent and, if this monthly rhythm is maintained (1.4%), as of December 31 this objective will not be met. For this reason, the Metro Company and the auditor’s office have raised in meetings and communications with the Chinese consortium Metro Line 1 increase activity levels.
Bogotá metro workshop yard Photo:Mauricio Moreno / EL TIEMPO
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They are being given alerts about the progress of some works of the subway. What is happening with the project?
Indeed, the alerts originate from the Bogotá Metro Company, which, together with the audit, monitors the contract. It is from the information we provide that the Comptroller General’s Office, the mayor, the manager for Bogotá and we evaluate and identify the existence of a deviation in execution. As of September 30, the project closed with a overall execution of 83.73 percent.
Although it seems like a positive figure, the goal that gave us peace of mind was reach 90 percent by December. Today we see that that goal is not going to be met. In September, the advance was 1.4 percent and, if that pace were maintained in the remaining three months, we would add an additional 4.2 percent, reaching between 88 percent and 88.5 percent at the end of the year.
Leonidas Narváez, manager of the Metro Company. Photo:Bogotá Metro
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Can we talk about delays?
The contract presents deviations, but no delays. According to the early programming curve, we should be at 88.37 percent, which represents a deviation of 4.6 points below. However, compared to the late programming (which requires 81.13%), we are 2.6 points higher. This places the contract within the path that allows it to meet the September milestone of next year for the start of the white march. To ensure this, we have held working groups and issued formal requirements. demanding the consortium increase the pace.
What components are they concentrating on? slower progress?
The contract is made up of 630 execution units distributed in seven large components. Those that are going very well and adjusted to the early curve are: workshop yard, viaduct, complementary structures and rolling stock. In rolling stock, already Train number 20 arrived at the port of Cartagenaidentified as 121; There are 10 trains missing that will be in the country between now and January. He viaduct registers a progress of 93 percent and It will be finished in March next year..
The difficulties are concentrated in three components: access stations and buildings, systems and equipment, and road network and public space. He Delay in stations directly impacts systems and equipmentsince without the ready infrastructure the technical rooms required to install the electromechanical components cannot be adapted.
At stations, we have three types of execution units: structures, which are mostly completed, except for specific geotechnical adjustments at stations 15 and 16; MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) finishes and networks. We have demanded that Metro Line 1 substantially increase staff operational for masonry, painting, facades and technical rooms, as well as specialist personnel for the assembly of electrical power, communications and train operating logic systems.
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Bogotá Metro Station. Photo:Bogotá Metro
Is there a risk that some stations are not completed in September 2027?
There are two stations with technical complexities: 15 and 16. Particularly, in station 16, the soft condition of the soil in the Lake area required detailed evaluations in the foundation piling. It is feasible that this station will not have 100 percent of its MEP components completed by September (2027), but it could be ready a couple of months later, which does not compromise the start of commercial operation in March 2028. Currently, the stations component registers an advance of 49 percenton par with the late scheduling limit (49%), but with a 14 percent deviation from early scheduling (64%).
To serve the front of stations and systems specialized labor is required. Does the consortium have such personnel?
It is a contractual obligation. The consortium is committed to link the necessary technical personnel and, if necessary, bring it from Chinawhere they have extensive experience in the construction of subways and high-speed trains. From the Metro Company and the institutions, we are ready to facilitate the visa procedures for these qualified personnel to enter and increase the execution capacity in the technical rooms.
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Do they remain, then, sign the main schedule dates?
They remain. The programming has not been modified: September 2027 for the start of the white march and March 2028 for commercial operation. The current alerts correspond to preventive actions to correct deviations in time and guarantee strict compliance with the contract.
Bogotá metro workshop yard Photo:Mauricio Moreno / EL TIEMPO
He volume of work required in public space turned out to be higher to the initially estimated. First they will be around the terns and then we will have the public space?
Public space (component seven) is directly subject to the transfer of secondary networks and home connections by the concessionaire. Detail engineering showed that actual quantities exceed contractual forecasts. They must intervene nearly 300 kilometers of networkscompared to the 200 kilometers initially projected. In financial terms, the network stock market went from 171,000 million pesos to require an additional 122,000 millionin 2017 values.
To remedy this deficit, We take advantage of budgetary efficiencies obtained in the purchase of land within the co-financing agreement with the Nation. These resources will be transferred to the civil works area to add to the concession contract and expand the road network work fronts. He process is in the final phase before the Ministry of Transportation.
This increase in work will involve adjusting delivery times for public space. However, access to the stations will be prioritized to guarantee the flow of users. I clarify emphatically that This rescheduling does not alter the start date of the white march or the entry into commercial operation of the metro.
ML1 warns about lack of personnel in the market
Given the alerts about possible risks in the progress of the project, the consortium Metro Line 1 (ML1) He stated yesterday in a statement that since the beginning of works has mobilized “all resources without sparing efforts.” The project is in a phase of finishing and installation of equipment that requires incorporating specialized workerswhich became one of the great recent challenges of the work due to the lack of availability of profiles in the local market.
According to ML1, there is high labor competitiveness due to the simultaneous execution of megaprojects in Bogotá that require similar plants. Given this situation, the consortium indicated that has expanded its recruitment strategy nationwideoffering attractive salaries.
Advance of the components of the megaproject
–Viaduct 93.92%
–Complementary structures 99.36%
–Workshop Patio 95.10%
–Stations and access buildings 49.26%
–Systems and equipment 43.39%
–Rolling stock 95.96%
–Road mesh and public space 18.75%
Source: Bogotá Metro Company
GUILLERMO REINOSO RODRÍGUEZ
Bogotá Editor
In X: @guirei24
