Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — Municipal authorities say companies working on Playa del Carmen roads are required to repair their damage. Members of City Hall have been making tours of known damaged areas by companies such as CFE, Telmex and Aguakan.
Municipal authorities conducted tours in various locations in the city’s main square to verify the status of repairs carried out by utility companies such as Aguakan, the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), Telmex and natural gas companies.
The review was led by Councilman Uri Carmona Islas, President of the Urban Development Commission, who noted that a lot of the damage to public roads such as potholes, improperly installed covers and exposed manhole covers are the result of substandard work by these companies.
“We’re reviewing with construction experts and finding that the repairs aren’t being done correctly. In a month or a month and a half, these poorly executed projects will collapse again. That’s not a solution it’s just a band-aid,” he said.
He said according to municipal reports, at least 600 incidents have been detected related solely to CFE infrastructure that have included power poles, covers and manholes. In addition to the visible damage, Carmona Islas warned of greater risks.
“We drove along Avenida Juárez and there are exposed high-voltage cables. We are about to enter the rainy season which could lead to serious accidents. There are also areas frequented by children that are in unacceptable conditions,” he added.
Carmona Islas said that compliance with the recently approved exhortation by the City Council is being evaluated, seeking to demand accountability. If there is no progress, the City Council plans to toughen its legal, judicial, and media stance.
“Citizens blame the municipality but this damage isn’t caused by the City Council. The service providers are paid well and should do their jobs properly. We’re going to pressure them to respond appropriately,” he explained.
The City has also conducted tours in other areas including Gonzalo Guerrero, Ejido and Las Brisas neighborhoods where multiple citizen complaints have been reported due to road damage.
Members of the Urban Development Commission, as well as representatives of Aguakan and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), have carried out tours in order to verify compliance with the repair and maintenance work.
During the inspections, which also included representatives from Aguakan and the CFE, several deficiencies were detected in the rehabilitation of the asphalt pavements following the work performed by both companies. Non-compliance with current regulations regarding public works and road maintenance was found, he said.
“The objective of the inspection was to ensure that the companies fully complied with their responsibility to restore roads to their original condition in accordance with applicable regulations. This institutional exercise seeks to strengthen inter-institutional coordination and ensure the safety and well-being of citizens,” said Councilman Carmona Islas.
At the end of the inspection, it was agreed to convene an urgent meeting with the heads of the companies involved, which has been scheduled for June 10. At this meeting, the documentation and evidence gathered during the inspection will be presented with the aim of establishing concrete commitments and timelines for correcting the deficiencies detected.
Councilmen also warn that current bad weather combined with the start of hurricane season could worsen existing damage and increase the risk of road accidents.
“Supervision is not an end in itself but rather a means to enforce contractual and legal obligations on the part of concessionaires. Our institutional commitment is to ensure the proper functioning and safety of urban infrastructure,” he said.
