Global Courant 2023-05-01 11:40:09
Starting at midnight on Monday, May 1, new provisions on the Palín-Escuintla highway came into force, due to the expiration of the concession that the managing company had with the Guatemalan government.
The Palín-Escuintla highway was under the administration of Marhnos for 25 years and this will be the first time that the highway will be administered by the Central Government.
This Sunday, during a conference given by the Minister of Communications, Javier Maldonado, accompanied by the head of the Ministry of the Interior, David Napoleón Barrientos, and Sandro Testelli, representative of Marhnos, the latest details of the new administration of the highway were announced. Palin-Escuintla.
“In the course of a week, more or less, we will give other -provisions- because we will use this week to see what is the behavior of the entire population, how is the behavior in the traffic flow, what complications may there be, what new ideas we can have in consensus and together with carriers and trade unions”, said Maldonado.
Meanwhile, Testelli reported that on May 2 they will hold a press conference to disclose more details about how the route was handed over to the Government.
A team from Prensa Libre and Noticiero Guatevisión were present this Saturday at midnight when the concession term expired and the talanqueras were lifted.
Around midnight, only two toll booths were working. This is what the road looked like:
(Video: Carlos Paredes)
Celebration
Édgar Rodríguez, a resident of Palín and who expected the pass to be free in the first minutes of Monday, told Prensa Libre and Guatevisión that for the residents the liberation of the pass is a party.
“I think that in the end it was a 25-year robbery that was committed (…) because the roads do not have to be privatized if they are built with our money, from taxes,” said Rodríguez, who was the first to pass no charge.
Also read: Palín-Escuintla Highway: The images that show how the route began in 1997 and what the rates were
The neighbor narrated that it was an ordeal for the residents to face long lines during the day to be able to cross through the sentry boxes.
Neighbors and local authorities celebrate the opening of the talanqueras of the garitas. (Free Press Photo: Érick Ávila) The first vehicles to pass after the collection is issued at the checkpoints. (Free Press Photo: Érick Ávila) Drivers wait for the opening of the road. (Free Press Photo: Érick Ávila) Everything went normally during the opening of the road. (Free Press Photo: Carlos Paredes)
