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Fujimori promises new metro lines, highways; experts question feasibility
🇵🇪 Peru /Energy & Infrastructure

Fujimori promises new metro lines, highways; experts question feasibility

From La República · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori announced ambitious infrastructure plans, including completing the Metro Line 2 and building new lines and intercity trains.
  • Experts question the feasibility of executing all announced projects within a single presidential term, citing a lack of detail on timelines and execution mechanisms.
  • Specific projects like the New Central Highway face technical challenges and social-environmental concerns, with critics suggesting alternative priorities.

President Keiko Fujimori has unveiled a sweeping infrastructure agenda, prioritizing transportation and public works in her first national address. Her administration aims to complete the ongoing Metro Line 2 in Lima and initiate construction on lines 3, 4, 5, and 6. The plan also includes ambitious intercity rail projects connecting Lima with Ica and Barranca, and establishing rail systems for Arequipa, Piura, and Trujillo. Fujimori also pledged to reform public procurement, enhance intergovernmental coordination, and ensure greater transparency in project execution.

The Line 2 has been unfinished for years and is a real headache. Hopefully, it gets unstuck.

— David MujicaA transport specialist commenting on the progress of Metro Line 2 and the feasibility of new lines.

However, specialists express significant doubts about the feasibility of these grand plans. While acknowledging that many initiatives address real national needs, they argue the scope is excessively ambitious for a single presidential term. A key criticism is the lack of detailed information regarding timelines, prioritization, and concrete execution strategies. David Mujica, a transport specialist, supports the focus on rail but deems the announcement of multiple new metro lines as "adventurous," suggesting only Lines 2 and 3 might be achievable within five years.

But talking about lines 4, 5, and 6 seems a bit adventurous to me.

— David MujicaA transport specialist expressing skepticism about the timeline for new metro lines.

The proposed New Central Highway, a flagship project, faces particular scrutiny. Engineer Jorge Gutiérrez highlighted persistent technical issues, including concerns about the chosen route traversing high-risk landslide zones and areas with social and environmental conflicts. He questioned the insistence on a problematic alignment and its potential profitability, suggesting the substantial cost could be better allocated to other urgent infrastructure needs. Gutiérrez stressed the project's urgency but called for a more economical and beneficial approach for the country.

We don't understand why they insist on a route that still has so many problems and whose studies have not yet concluded.

— Jorge GutiérrezAn engineer criticizing the proposed alignment for the New Central Highway.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by La República in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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