From the Cosse administration they said they were not aware of the project, despite the fact that the private initiative already has the go-ahead.
The recent authorization from the national government to carry out feasibility studies with the objective of building a tramway that Independence Square and Pinewood sparked controversy in Montevideo due to the lack of prior consultation with the departmental administration.
This was expressed by the director of Mobility of the Municipality of Montevideo (IM), Pablo Inthamoussu, in dialogue with Radio Carve. The official considered that he did not find it very serious “that a project be endorsed or approved without having spoken with the governments, at least with that of Montevideo, I think that with that of Cannelloni, neither”.
As Inthamoussou explained, the IM had presented a project in April 2021 to create fast corridors in the avenue italy and October 8th —those of Route 5 and route 1 they were postponed for another initiative—, but to this day they did not have an answer from the Central government, fundamental to define the sources of financing. “We are here to work, and to work seriously”, he pointed. “What we have to do here is all get together at a table,” he added, referring to the lack of prior talks that existed between the capital and the central administration.
“A breach of republican values”
For Inthamoussu, the tram project was “started backwards.” “We find it really surprising that this is presented in this way,” he said, and considered that it is more striking because “one looks these days and the number of zeros multiplies, there are zeros everywhere, multi-million dollar figures.” In this sense, the director of Mobility pointed to the lack of response from the government to its own projects, recalling that the initiative of the corridors could have started running in June 2022; I mean, a year ago.
“Right off the bat, we came across a private initiative that is accepted by the government and that we don’t know about. We would like, at least, to study the project”, said Inthamoussu. “I’m really surprised by the disregard for departmental governmentsbecause I know not only the previous governments, but the one of the own Lacalle Herrara that he was very considerate of the departmental governments,” said the official and concluded: “Forgetting about that is not respecting some republican values that we have to have”.
Source: Ambito
