With a total length of 23.9 kilometres, Bogotá’s first metro line (PLMB) (First metro line Bogota) will be one of the longest in South America and will be operational in 2028. setec is playing a crucial role in this ambitious and eagerly awaited project in Colombia, providing specialised project management consultancy (PMO) services to Empresa Metro Bogotá, S.A., the public company responsible for implementing the project. setec is also responsible for technical assistance and the review of critical elements of the studies for the system and operations aspects.
Following an international call for tenders, the concession contract for the construction of the PLMB was awarded to APCA Transmimetro, a consortium formed by China Harbour Engineering Company Limited and Xi’an Rail Transportation Group Company Limited. This consortium, under the name Metro Línea 1 S.A.S., is responsible for the investment, financing, design, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of the line. Although this colossal project is under Chinese responsibility, it is financed by multiple international stakeholders, including the European Investment Bank, a feature that adds to the complexity of the project itself. Aimed at improving mobility for more than 8 million inhabitants, the PLMB will include 16 stations, 10 of which will be integrated into the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system.
To limit the impact on the surrounding area, the metro will run on an elevated track stretching over 24 kilometres in the south-west of the capital, where demand for public transport is at its highest. The electric trains are designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The PLMB represents a major step forward for the city’s infrastructure and will ultimately boost its economic and tourism development, while promoting intermodality and reducing pollutant emissions. Last May, Bogotá’s Development and Regional Planning Commission approved a future 3.25-kilometre extension to the elevated roadway.
“The Consorcio Consultores PMO consortium is made up of setec its, setec Gómez Cajiao, a leading Colombian engineering consultancy, and CyD Ingeniería, a Chilean engineering company. setec plays a key role by providing all expertise in project planning, coordination, monitoring and control. Our joint ambition is to contribute to the sustainability, technical excellence and efficient management of this major project.
William G. Peñaloza Díaz, Administrative Director, Consorcio Consultores PMO Bogotá
