Global Courant 2023-05-09 11:06:49
An unexpected populist trump card was the Palín-Escuintla highway, whose first days free from pay have been the reason for expressions of complacency, but also of discontent and concern. First came the demand from the transport sector, which demanded criteria of equality in the free use of the road. The Executive set a restriction so that only trucks with six axles or less could pass, to lessen the deterioration, but yesterday it eliminated it: evidence of the improvisation with which the matter was approached when the contract of the company that managed the concession. Certainly the conditions of the 25-year contract were leonine and the royalties for the State were meager. However, the payment of passage generated VAT resources and ensured its trafficability.
Perhaps the possibility of a new concession with a higher percentage of economic benefit to the country should have been evaluated. Such income could have been directed to the development of the municipalities that the highway crosses, with which the population that does not own a vehicle could have also benefited. Even if it had been left under some form of state collection, a reduction in the rate would have been a relief without losing the financing to maintain it.
Improvisation and last-minute actions weighed more. In the middle of the electoral campaign, there was too much temptation, fear or demagogic eagerness. Twelve days before the end of the contract with Marnhos, opposition deputies proposed to approve a operative paragraph to urge the Executive to eliminate the toll. Yes, they also wanted political revenue and the ruling party was not going to let the package be snatched away. They rejected it. Three days later, President Alejandro Giammattei Falla announced the free section as if he were doing a favor.
Some pro-government deputies decided to celebrate at the toll booths at zero hours on May 1 and described it as an “achievement”, although in reality it was only a term that expired, a situation that was not anticipated and a dilemma before which deprived the electoral vision. Supposedly the Ministry of Communications will be in charge of maintaining the section, until now considered the best in the country. The effectiveness of such conservation is in doubt when observing the deficiencies of the road network, beginning with the nearby route to the South Coast, which presents dangerous signaling failures and multiple unfinished sections. In addition, there is no such gratuity, because any work in this section will consume resources from taxpayers, including those who do not drive a vehicle.
One of the factors that cause the greatest deterioration to the pavement layer is the lack of weight control. The Executive clears the way and announces the installation of scales, a procedure that takes time and takes up space, without detailing where and how they will be installed or how much it will also cost taxpayers. But it’s “free”.
Paradoxically, now that there is no longer a stop at the toll booths, there have been heavy traffic jams on the motorway, due to the high influx of vehicles. The Police and Road Protection Brigades are positioned at certain points along the stretch to watch the cars go by. This has not prevented the circulation of trucks against the track or with overweight. There are also speed abuses, disrespect for lanes for heavy traffic and vehicles parked in risk areas, without anyone intervening. Giammattei Falla’s campaign offer to support public-private alliances as a way to preserve and finance the road improvement was denied. Total, in eight months they will leave the deterioration, the excuses and the costs to the next government.
Impromptu highway driving will be expensive
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