World Bank approved US$600 million loan to modernize Belgrano Sur railway

World Bank approved US0 million loan to modernize Belgrano Sur railway

The project will finance the electrification of the Belgrano Sur line, the renovation of tracks, the improvement of stations and their surroundings, the construction of underpasses and pedestrian bridges, among other activities and will benefit 2 million people who live in the area of ​​influence of the branch , the multilateral credit organization said in a statement.

The World Bank explained that the project is a variable margin loan, repayable in 32 years and has a grace period of 7 years.

For his part, the Minister of Transport, alexis warrior, he pointed: “It is a very important advance with which we are modernizing our rail passenger transport.”

“We are convinced that these investments will be a turning point for the residents of the southern part of the Metropolitan Area, which has undoubtedly been relegated for many yearsWarrior said.

The Modernization of Passenger Rail Transport in Buenos Aires – Belgrano Sur Line project seeks to improve user mobility “in an inclusive, safe and environmentally sustainable way, providing a quality public transport service to vulnerable populations living in the most populated municipalities of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area (AMBA), such as La Matanza, Morón and Merlo”, the World Bank specified.

In this regard, the agency’s director for Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, Jordan Schwartz, assured that “strengthening investment in infrastructure is crucial for job creation.”

In addition, he highlighted that “The modernization of the Argentine railways entails better accessibility to jobs and services, providing faster, more reliable, inclusive, safer and more sustainable transport.”

The works in the stations will favor accessibility for people with disabilities with the installation of ramps and signage, the implementation of strategies for safe mobility for women and LGBT+ groups will be supported, including the improvement of lighting in the stations and their surroundings , the installation of security totems to report emergencies and the construction of gender offices in stations.

On the other hand, the project promotes low-carbon transport by offering an electric train service that is fast and safe, thus discouraging the use of private vehicles and favoring the use of bicycles with the construction of specific nurseries.

It will also adopt climate change-resilient infrastructure design standards for flood prevention and resistance to high temperatures and strong winds.

This financing reinforces the World Bank’s investment in the rail transport sector in the AMBA, after it approved a US$347 million loan in 2021 for the modernization of the Miter Line.

Source: Ambito

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