Chancay | Infrastructure | Port of Chancay | Here’s how the MTC’s work on its interconnection is progressing | ECONOMY

This was indicated by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Ismael Sutta, during his speech at the “Forum on the Chancay – Callao Port Hub for the strengthening of the naval industry in Peru”. These are, the official explained, a series of crucial projects to improve logistics in the area surrounding the port.

The total portfolio exceeds investments of S/ 5,221 million and includes a road network, a railway and three road corridors. What projects are they and how are they progressing? The management tells you.

READ ALSO: MEF incentives to create a new “free zone” between Chancay and Callao

The group of works

As Sutta explained during his presentation, the MTC has designed a management tool called “National Transport Logistics Services and Infrastructure Plan 2032”, where its guideline 4 details the specific works needed to logistics development between Chancay and Callao.

“(These projects) are the ones that will have a direct impact on the port. Some are already running, others at the technical file level, but all have the vision to be developed in the short term,” she commented.

In total there are five projects. Although these are road networks or corridors, some are divided into parts. Furthermore, as Sutta explained, not all its components show uniform progress in their development (see table).

This happens, for example, with the Road Network No. 5 (Ancón – Huacho – Pativilca), a work made up of three infrastructures. The most advanced is the construction of the lower flyover, which aims to ensure road safety on the Panamerican North for vehicular and pedestrian crossings.

The deputy minister believes that it will be crucial for the displacement of the inhabitants of Chancay and the workers of the megaport. Work is scheduled to begin in February 2024.

The other two components of the work are Chancay – Chancayllo Avoidance, which seeks to mitigate accidents in the area; and the Road Couple – Serpentín Pasamayo – Variante Pasamayo; which will design a third lane on the South – North carriageway of the Pasamayo Ring Road to improve vehicular traffic on the Pan-American Highway.

Unlike the overpass, these other parts of the road network do not yet have a start date. “The concessionaire has already presented its proposals, the technical profile is being examined by the MTC as regards the technical, economic and contractual feasibility”, specified Sutta.

In addition to this road network, there are works that seek to generate alternative routes to the Central Highway. The Lima Barranca Railway stands out for its importance, which will have mixed traffic (passengers and goods). The goodwill of this work will be rewarded this month, according to the deputy minister.

“He is already in the process of calling to prepare the profile. It will take a year to complete and would allow us to take a multimodal vision of logistics development, apart from road construction,” she explained.

Three road corridors close the group. The most advanced is the one connecting Huayllay, Acos and Huaral, since according to Sutta, its final study should be ready in May, the execution of which will begin in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The previous corridor is the “simplest” of all, since it involves only one component unlike the other two, where an uneven progression is observed between its parts.

There is, for example, the Ambo-Oyón-Huara Road Corridor, which is made up of two roads, one of which in turn has three sections to be built. This is the Oyón – Ambo highway. According to Sutta, although his second section has a physical progress of 71%, the other two are further behind.

“Section I is in preparation for the work balance dossier and Section III in the final dossier. These projects are expected to be completed in early 2025,” the deputy minister assured.

Something similar happens with the Huayllay – Canta – Lima – Chancay road corridor, made up of two roads. While the one linking Lima to Canta is expected to begin construction in the fourth quarter of this year, the Canta – Huayllay highway has a construction budget of 73% physical progress and hopes to complete it in July.

READ ALSO: With no ongoing road projects to facilitate freight transport in Chancay, unions warn

Current roads will not support demand

While approving the roadmap prepared by the MTC, Julio Pérez, president of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), doubts that it will not be ready before the port of Chancay comes into operation.

“In its first phase, the port will move one million containers per year. This could increase further with the inauguration of the next ports. The current road networks do not support it,” he explains to Gestión.

Pérez assures that the most important part of the work package is the road network n. 5. “Corridors will help and rail will take time. I see that the government is willing to accelerate the projects, but it should have started earlier, in parallel with the development of Chancay,” he says.

ADEX assures that one alternative to alleviate cargo traffic would be for Congress to pass in a second vote the cabotage law, which would allow foreign shipping companies to operate in this way.

In this regard, Carlos Estremadoyro, former head of the MTC, believes that it would be useful for the Callao – Chancay route. “It can alleviate it. Now, you might think that the load in Callao will decrease, but that won’t be the case. What Cosco Shipping brings to Chancay will be replaced with other companies,” he says.

However, for Omar Narrea, a researcher at the Center for China and Asia-Pacific Studies at the University of the Pacific (UP), it could be a partial solution while waiting for the roads to be completed.

“It’s a powerful tool, but it won’t solve the entire problem. Most of the cargo will move to Lima, it won’t be cabotage from Chancay to Rimac, for example,” he comments.

For this reason, Narrea underlines that the construction of roads cannot ignore two aspects: the transfer of workers and connectivity with the city of Lima.

“The load does not move in a vacuum, it does so from warehouses or industrial land. In Lima there are specific areas for this purpose such as Puente Piedra and Ventanilla. Road planning must go hand in hand with the development of the industrial zones closest to Chancay and ensure efficiency. We are slow there too,” she says.

Estremadoyro proposes that maritime transport be enabled for workers. “It could be ferries leaving from small piers. It is an alternative means that could be used to use the road we never use: the sea,” he says.

READ ALSO: MEF: Government will discuss the new law on free zones at the end of the month

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graduated in Journalism from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. He is part of the founding team of the digital medium Sudaca. Experience in Peruvian political, social and economic coverage.

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2024-01-18 22:38:18
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