For 25 years, the Marhnos company was in charge of the administration, maintenance and toll collection of the Palín-Escuintla highway, and on May 1, 2023, that section was in charge of the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (Micivi) , although the matter is not settled.
This route is one of the most important logistics corridors in the country, since those who circulate along it are normally vehicles that go to or come from the port areas of Puerto Quetzal and APM Terminals Quetzal, various production centers on the south coast and the west. , the land borders with Mexico and El Salvador, as well as various tourist regions.
A week following taking office last January, the new head of Micivi, Jazmín de la Vega, reported that the Palín-Escuintla Highway would be returned to Marhnos, but that no toll would be charged, because the route would not be It was delivered in the manner in which the contract was established. This, apart from the fact that the concession was approved by Congress at the end of 1990 and it was not until an official report dated April 2023, when it was known that the State only received Q21.4 million in royalties since May 1, 2000. .
For now, any decision made regarding the future of the highway will correspond to the current Government authorities.
Which is the diagnosis?
Héctor Fajardo, director of the Chamber of Central American Transporters (Catransca), highlighted that one year following the highway stopped collecting tolls, there has been a significant impact on the dynamics of the road, generating both benefits and questions regarding its future.
“The current situation of the highway has not changed. The concession contract with the company Marhnos is still in the process of executing the final liquidation stage so that Micivi can receive the highway and take charge of it.”
Micivi Position
Benefits of free passage: Traffic increased, since the release of payment for the use of the highway has registered a notable increase in the circulation of vehicles of all sizes, capacities and uses. He cited as an example that especially on weekends, the influx of minibuses and buses is observed, while commercial cargo vehicles have increased during all days of the week. This has generated the installation of shops and businesses on the banks of the road, promoting the local economy, benefiting businesses and communities along the stretch.
Low maintenance: In the last year, maintenance work was carried out on the entire section of the highway, which includes profiling, placement of asphalt and horizontal signage. But in the opinion of road infrastructure experts, the work carried out was of poor quality and carried out during the rainy season, which is not the best time to achieve the necessary quality and lasting performance of the work.
Infrastructure deterioration: The above has created the need to clean ditches and slopes, which causes accelerated damage to the condition of the route, so it is feared that in a short time, the highway will deteriorate to the point of becoming almost impassable.
Road safety: The increase in traffic has increased the risk of accidents, requiring greater effort in signage, surveillance and speed controls.
Uncertain future: The financing model that will be used for maintenance and future works on the highway is unknown, as there is no certainty whether the government will assume full responsibility or whether it will seek a new toll scheme or public-private partnerships.
For Juan Carlos Zapata, executive director of the Foundation for the Development of Guatemala (Fundesa), the diagnosis is that “the State simply does not have the capabilities to manage that highway with quality.”
Institutional position
Free Press consulted the respective authorities regarding the current situation of the Palín-Escuintla highway and the response was: “The current situation of the highway has not changed. The concession contract with the company Marhnos is still in the process of executing the final liquidation stage so that Micivi can receive the highway and take charge of it.”
“If we let the roads continue to deteriorate, there will not be freer trade or more employment and income opportunities.”
René Muñoz Barnoya, logistics consultant
When asked regarding the future of this asset, they stated: “Micivi respects the Law. At this moment we depend on the timing of the processes and the decisions of the legal bodies on the complaints filed.”
And regarding the short and medium-term plans for the highway, the entity highlighted that a technical table was formed with specialists who are in charge of the analysis and evaluation of future plans, but that any decision will depend on the resolutions that have been made. , to determine how to proceed.
What is the perspective?
To this, Fajardo suggested the following:
Find a sustainable financing model: Alternatives should be found and discussed such as electronic tolling or the implementation of a charge-per-use system, ensuring transparency and reinvestment of funds in the highway to keep it in optimal conditions of use.
Strengthening road and citizen safety: Road safety education campaigns, greater police presence and the implementation of technology for speed control and the detection of drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs are required. “In recent months, too many cases of robberies and robberies of commercial public transport vehicles have also been reported, so it is urgent to guarantee citizen safety on that highway,” he reiterated.
Dialogue and citizen participation: It is essential to establish an open and transparent dialogue between authorities, communities, users and the private sector to define the future of the highway jointly, considering the needs and concerns of all interested parties.
In his opinion, ultimately, the future of the Palín-Escuintla Highway is at a crucial point. And while free passage has brought tangible benefits, it has also created challenges that require immediate attention.
“The State does not have the capabilities to manage that highway with quality”
Juan Carlos Zapata, executive director of Fundesa
“Finding a sustainable financing model, prioritizing road and citizen safety, encouraging citizen participation will be key to guaranteeing the viability and sustainable development of this important communication route in Guatemala,” concluded the representative of the transportation sector.
For Zapata, the highway should pass into the hands of the State, although it does not have the resources or technical capabilities to provide the necessary maintenance, so there is an opportunity to promote a new international tender by the National Agency for Alliances for the Development of Economic Infrastructure (Anadie), so that a public-private alliance (PPP) guarantees quality, service and a greater return to the State.
The balance is negative
The business consultant in logistics René Muñoz Barnoya stated that following a year, it has been shown that in private hands there were fewer accidents and he regretted that there has not been coverage for those injured.
The other situation is maintenance, since having better visibility improves the driving of motorists, but, although the government through its units has done the best it can, maintenance is poor.
On the other hand, he explained that by removing the concession from Marhnos, the way in which the toll booths were removed and the state of the area was not the best.
Regarding the outlook, it is expected that the Government will analyze the damages and realize that, under a concession in law, users will have better service.
“If we let the roads continue to deteriorate, there will not be freer trade or more employment and income opportunities. Transportation must work so that goods and services produced for export and local consumption reach their destinations at a better cost for consumers,” he stated.
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