The leaders are waiting to obtain the support of the Government to promote the construction of the first section.
The Governor of Valle with the mayors of Cali and Jamundí signed an agreement to guarantee the economic resources allocated by the region for the construction of the first phase of the Commuter Train.
According to the governor, Dilian Francisca Toro, the department has made the decision among local leaders to unite around this strategic project for the mobility, especially for the sustainable development of the region.
“We are here because the legal authorities and what we have discussed with the National Development Finance Company, FDN, to sign an agreement between the Governor of Valle del Cauca, the Mayor of Jamundí and the Mayor of Cali with the aim of ensuring that the future validity that we already have cannot expire and that in this way the train continues to be a reality for the people of Valle del Cauca,” mentioned Toro.
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He stressed that they maintain hope that the president Gustavo Petro signs the technical and financial endorsement of the first phase of the project that connects the municipalities of Cali and Jamundí.
“We have hope and faith in God and that the president will accept the co-financing of the Commuter Train, but if it is not approved, we Valle del Cauca cannot sit still.” looking at each other’s faces and we have to keep this train moving forward,” he said.
In that sense, Toro emphasized the meetings that have been held in recent days between the mayors to ensure the $3.5 billion corresponding to the contribution of Cali, Jamundí and the Government of Valle del Cauca.
“This agreement is with that objective, we will look for other mechanisms that we must identify, we continue working on the Commuter Train. Those of us who are gathered here are going to move forward.”he highlighted.
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For her part, the mayor of Jamundí, Paola Castillo, pointed out that this work is very significant for her municipality, considering the multiple difficulties faced in recent times.
The Commuter Train is the most important project and is the symbol of efficient and reduce travel times by 33%, It is the symbol of a more modern mobility that the department has.
These projects will allow the economy to be mobilized and will allow for a better quality of life for the people of Jamundeño,” said Castillo.
He reiterated his call to President Gustavo Petro with the purpose of guaranteeing the delivery of the guarantees corresponding to the financing. In this regard, the mayor of Cali also referred, Alejandro Eder, who stated that there is every willingness from Valle del Cauca to join the project.
“Today we have the resources and the political will, we have the future validity and the clamor of the people to build this project, what we lack is the approval of the National Government, we trust that the fiscal and technical endorsement will arrive, by President Gustavo Petro,” said the Mayor of Cali.
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In that sense, he emphasized that the formalization of the agreement is a way to guarantee the future of the project regardless of who is in front of the Administration.
“We formalize the will and we have the possibility with the future validity of giving life to this dream. If the endorsement does not arrive, we will continue working to obtain the endorsements and once the presidential elections are over, the National Government can join,” he noted.
Eder pointed out that, “Once the work begins, it will take six years to build, it is a sustainable form of transportation between Jamundí and Cali we are going to work to leave the two phases of the Commuter Train ready,” he said.
