Federal Government To Expropriate 198 Properties for Mayan Train
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Federal Government To Expropriate 198 Properties for Mayan Train

Photo by:   Tren Maya on Twitter
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María José Goytia By María José Goytia | Journalist and Industry Analyst - Mon, 01/31/2022 - 12:50

The federal government and the Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), have the intention to expropriated 198 private properties in the state of Quintana Roo for the construction of the Mayan Train, raising concerns among local authorities and the business community.

On Monday, the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF) published the declaration of cause of public utility regarding the expropriation of 241 hectares of private property. The properties are located in the municipalities of Benito Juarez, Solidaridad and Puerto Morelos, in the state of Quintana Roo and will be used for the construction of Section 5 North of the Mayan Train Project.

Prior, FONATUR and the Ministry of Governance (SEGOB) negotiated with members of the Riviera Maya Hotel Association a new route for the section between Cancún and Tulum in an effort to not affect the chain of hotel´s infrastructure. The purchase of land totaled MX$1 billion (US$48.5 million).

Last week government authorities announced that the Mayan Train will no longer travel through Playa del Carmen. New chief of FONATUR, Javier May, who recently replaced Rogelio Jiménez Pons, announced the suspension of the construction of the elevated overpass in Playa del Carmen, as a new route will be designed traveling outside the city. Over the past years the train has been rerouted several times, nevertheless, this has been the first time a construction that already started has been canceled. Publication of the expropriation notice came 12 days after the reroute was announced.

The rerouting of the Mayan Train in the Cancun-Playa del Carmen section and the cancellation of the project that had already been constructed has seen the deforestation of approximately 20,000 thousand trees. Route 5 includes stations in Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, and has undergone several changes due to geographical and social reasons.

According to May, the decision to cancel constructions was due to the numerous damages caused by the project to the citizens of the Solidaridad municipality. It is expected that in the coming days a definitive route will be announced. May also reported the route in Playa del Carmen will be ground level and the train will run on the west side of the hotels instead of on the beachside.

"The decision to expropriate allows us to finish in the time we require. The project should be completed by July 2023, we will enter into a practical dynamic and accomplish the progress required to finish in the designated time,” explained May.

Photo by:   Tren Maya on Twitter

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