The Ministry of Planning and Economic Policy transferred to the Costa Rican Railways Institute ¢314.458.200 for the feasibility studies of the 131 km railroad project between Alajuela and Puntarenas. The announcement was made on the morning of this Monday, November 25, by the Minister of MIDEPLAN, Pilar Garrido Gonzalo, and the Executive President of INCOFER, Elizabeth Briceño Jiménez. The reactivation of the Railroad to Puntarenas is one of the key projects of INCOFER framed in the Institutional Strategic Plan 2019-2023, together with the GAM Passenger Electric Train and the Electric Freight Train to Limón, with which the institute reactivates its operation in 6 of the 7 provinces of Costa Rica. These tasks must be carried out within a 7-month work schedule and through the public tender procedure, in accordance with the provisions of the Preinvestment Fund Regulations.
The executive president of INCOFER, said that for the railroads to have the railroad to Puntarenas again, it is something that fills us with great enthusiasm. The Minister of Planning, Pilar Garrido said that providing the Central Pacific region with greater competitiveness, employment and well-being is an unavoidable task for the country’s potential growth.
The tasks that will be carried out with these resources of Investment Funds are: financial evaluation, cost analysis and economic-social evaluation, at prefeasibility level and select the ideal alternative to develop. Design and budget of the project contemplating the basic engineering studies, the design of the railway infrastructure, the electrification of the railway layout, as well as the signaling and communication. Propose the posters for the execution of the works and the acquisition of the works and the acquisition of land and equipment for the restoration of the service.