During the year 2023, the La Dorada-Chiriguaná railway corridor managed to transport 182,810 tons of coal, among other elements and products that are moved daily in the corridor that manages to connect the center of the country with the ports of the Caribbean.
The total transported, which was registered at 89,336 tons, was exceeded, reaching 182,810 in 2023, which represents an increase of 105%.
This rail corridor is part of the three currently administered by the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI): Bogota – Belencito, La Dorada – Chiriguana and Chiriguana – Santa Marta. During the whole of 2023, they mobilized 31,134,459 tonnes of coal, cement, scrap, iron ore, coffee, toiletries, ceramics, dairy foods, packaging, chemical inputs, plastic and mass consumption finished products such as toilet paper.
Given this significant event for the country’s industry, the Minister of Transportation, William Camargo, indicated that “The increase responds to the investments made by the sector last year, which amounted to more than $71 billion, through a public works contract that allowed surveillance, traffic control, emergency response, operation and maintenance of the 521 kilometers between La Dorada and Chiriguaná.”
Likewise, he reiterated that this not only means that last year was very good for the reactivation of the train, but that, with these figures, a message of confidence is sent to all operators and investors, showing an active train, in operation and running. .
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With the reactivation of the train and its permanent operation and maintenance, jobs and opportunities are generated throughout the region. Nearly 500 people are hired directly or indirectly, and in addition, social and productive projects are developed in the region. In addition, the schedule is advancing so that in 2024 the first railway APP will be awarded, which will be for this corridor and will generate more than 5 thousand direct and indirect jobs for the region and the country.
This will allow the economy to be further reactivated in this part of the country, since local labor will be hired with local inputs. According to the minister, the producers that are mostly transported through this corridor and that generate contributions to Cesar are paper, ceramics, coffee, fertilizers and soft drinks.
BY EDITORIAL/EL PILÓN