Truckers’ strike: blockades cause damage in Bogotá and nearby municipalities

Given the current situation, truckers strikein which they have been generated Blockades on roads connecting to the city of Bogotá With other populations in the region, different sectors have already had to make decisions regarding their operation.

One of these is the University of La Sabanawhich, following the blockades in the nearby municipality of Chía (Cundinamarca), decided to cancel the academic day in the afternoon hours of this September 2.

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​”Given this situation, the train service will operate normally and the bus routes will provide the scheduled service until 4:15 p.m. From this time on, the service is subject to availability and the return of the buses to the campus.“, the higher education institution noted, Located on the road that connects Bogotá with Chía and other municipalities.

(You may be interested in: Passenger and freight rates will rise by more than 7% after the first diesel price increase).

The same way, Coviandinconcession in charge of the via Bogota – Villavicencioreported that this corridor will be completely closed.

“(…) a total closure is carried out in the K0+000 El Uval sector due to demonstrations by freight transporters, who are protesting the rise in fuel (diesel) prices.“.

It is worth mentioning that both this variant and the 80th street are blocked. The capital’s traffic authorities also report disruptions due to mobilizations in:

– Via to La Calera with kilometer 4.2

– Carrera 27 with street 1

– 80th Street with 68th Avenue

– Carrera Séptima with 171st Street, south – north direction

– South Highway with Av. Villavicencio

– Bogotá – La Vega variant with kilometer 1

– 8th South Street with 27th Avenue

– Av. Villavicencio with Carrera 81J, east – west direction

– Av. Boyacá (71B Sur Street) with 16D Street, both directions.

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Likewise, TransMilenio announced that, given the concentrations, Feeder and zonal routes were diverted in:

– Av. Caracas with 59th street south

– Carrera 14V #71D South

– 170th Street with Seventh Avenue

– Via to La Calera (kilometer 4.2)

– Guadua Bridge (Entrance from 80th Street)

– Danubio Sector (Caracas Avenue with 56 South)

Why are truck drivers protesting?

On August 20th, the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonillahe stated that “there is an imaginary inflation that can only be resolved with the real world.”

In this context he reported that the Diesel price will rise by 6,000 pesos (about $1.44 today) between this year and next, which will be done in three half-yearly increases of 2,000 pesos (0.48 dollars) each.

With the increase, the price of a gallon of diesel was, on average, 11,360 pesos (about 2.73 dollars today) and, according to the Government, if inflation were considered since January 1, 2020, when the cost of this fuel was frozen, until today it should have a value of around 13,200 pesos (about $3.18 today).

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Edgardo Rodríguez, owner of a dump truck that transports construction materials for works in Bogotátold EFE that drivers at one of the exits in Bogotá are seeking for the Government to repeal the decree on fuel price increases.

“It is a peaceful march that is being carried out to try to repeal the decree on the increase in diesel fuel.“, he said and explained that what the National Government had supposedly reported was that this increase was for the “big consumers“.

He also said that they were waiting for the Government to call the small transporters and owners to agree on the increases and the way in which they will be applied and to ensure that this is not only done with large companies.

PORTFOLIO
*With information from EL TIEMPO – LATEST NEWS and EFE