Mexico City, Mexico — By urgent resolution, the Chamber of Deputies approved the allocation of railway services to parastatal entities without the possibility of ceding or transferring them to individuals.
The reform project was approved with 264 votes in favor of and 216 against. The opposition denounced that with the modifications to the General Communication Routes, Railway Service Regulations and Federal Parastatal Entities laws, the aim is to “shield” the Maya Train and leave its administration forever to the Army.
PAN Deputy José Antonio García questioned the fact that, without analysis or opinion, violating the legislative procedure and “through the back door”, Morena has approved the initiative for the government to operate and administer the Maya Train in total opacity.
He made the comment since it also grants the President of Mexico the power to directly assign parastatal entities the provision of public services as well as the use and exploitation of assets subject to the public domain regime for reasons of public utility and interest, general interest, social interest or national security.
PRI Legislator Eduardo Zarzosa affirmed that the project presented at the last minute seeks to dismantle the industry with the introduction of direct assignments to operate the railways.
“This initiative, in addition to wanting to get in through the back door at the last minute, does not have the consensus of the industry, nor of the people involved in the railway sector. We do not know if it is technically viable, the impact it may have and to what extent it may affect the country’s industry,” he pointed out.
Modifications to three laws give the guideline for the President to grant allocations for the provision of railway services to state entities, which would be non-transferable.
Currently, the majority state-owned company Fonatur Tren Maya has the assignment title, which was delivered by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) for a period of 50 years, counted from April 20, 2020, which allows it to build, operate and exploit the general rail communication route.
The initiative presented Tuesday, considered an urgent resolution, was proposed by Morena Deputy, Pablo Amílcar Sandoval Ballesteros, and endorsed by 263 votes in favor and 218 against.
It still needs to go to the Senate of the Republic for its analysis.
