The three tolls managed by the Prefecture of Pichincha generated more than $22 million in revenue between 2020 and 2021. The poor condition of the roads is a complaint from users.
In 2020, for the collection of tolls on the roads Aloag-Santo Domingo, Rumiñahui and intervals They were generated income for $12,709,792.10. In 2021, that income rose to $13,519,127.14.
Thus, in the last two years, more than $26 million were collected from all users, both citizens and carriers. However, according to information provided by the Pichincha Prefecturebarely 3.77% of these resources were effectively allocated to maintenance of those pathways.
For those purposes, $456,319.85 was spent in 2020; and $532,963.19 in 2021. In other words, a total of $989,283.04 went to improving the status of a road infrastructure who accumulates complaints every day.
Those complaints have even become de facto measures. On January 18, 2022, for example, a group of heavy carriers blocked the passage of vehicles on the Alóag – Unión del Toachi, at the kilometer 56 toll, in protest at the poor conditions presented by the highway. via.
That measure, in fact, was only the latest manifestation of a discontent that became evident during the last Christmas and New Year’s holidays, where private drivers, interprovincial bus carriers, trucks, and merchants denounced potholes, unevenness, loose stones, sections with destroyed asphalt and lack of lighting and signage.
Where do most of the toll resources go?
According to information from the same Pichincha Prefectureof the more than $26 million raised by tolls in the last two years, $11.92 million were used to pay a debt with the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF). That debt is linked to phase I and II of a road program for the Valle de los Chillos.
Another $11.41 million went in the payment of the financial performance of a contract signed in 2007. That contract has to do with the questioned expansion to four lanes Aloag- Santo Domingo.
Finally, $1.91 million more was spent on the payment of administrative services to the toll trust company Aloag-Santo Domingo.
Other debts are paid
During an appearance before the Commission for Transparency, Citizen Participation and Social Control of the Assembly, on January 14, 2022, the Prefect Paola Pabon assured that everything that is collected in the Toll of the Aloag- Santo Domingo The pending obligations of the contract that was signed in 2007 will be covered.
“Only in December of this year would the cost of that contract be covered. So, you have 72.5 km that you don’t have financing at the moment. Right now, we have a toll of $1 for a road that was supposed to be financed with $4. And with $17.7 million in debt from a 2007 contract,” he said.
According to Pabón, the improvement of that route depends on the Ministry of Transport and Public Works give the Prefecture a response on the alternatives that were presented to increase revenue.
Pabón assured that, in the case of the increase in Toll, which is one of the main alternatives, the commitment is that it will be charged as long as the road has been potholed. “I am an enemy of charging without improving,” she pointed out.
The Minister of Public Works, Marcelo Cabreraundertook to respond, in the shortest time possible, on the requests.
The other roads are also not in good condition
During 2021, repairs were announced in sections of the road intervals, but complaints continue about the poor condition. Even regular users assured that the interventions that have been made are of poor quality.
Andrés Contreras, for example, questioned the fact that works of a couple of kilometers take months without good results. “If for two kilometers in the intervals It’s been like three months now. They close from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon and it’s still on we’ll see, ”she limited.
According to the Pichincha PrefectureWithin last year’s investment plan, around $39.69 million were allocated to infrastructure and roads. That represents 51% of a total of more than $77 million spent on that plan.
However, Roberto Morillo, builder and urban planner, that amount of resources is not reflected in new works, much less in the improvement of existing ones.
“The province has been without good management for several periods. The infrastructure, across the board, is deteriorating,” he concluded. (JS)
Expenditure of the Prefecture of Pichincha
- The budget was $154.42 million in 2020 and $158.17 million in 2021.
- In 2020, the salary expense was $41.18 million and in 2021 it was $40.54 million. That represented more than 26% of the Prefecture’s budget.
