Dispute Over the Valle del Cauca Train Project
A political clash has erupted between President Gustavo Petro and Dilian Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca, after the national government failed to sign the co-financing agreement for the Tren de Cercanías del Valle, a key transportation project aimed at connecting Cali with Jamundí, Palmira, and Yumbo.
The agreement was expected to be signed before the Electoral Guarantees Law took effect on November 8, 2025, but the deadline passed without government approval. According to local officials, the delay could push the start of construction back by at least a year.
While Toro and local mayors signed a regional commitment ensuring 30% of the project’s funding through future budgets, the remaining 70% (around 12 trillion pesos) was to come from the national government — a contribution that was not formalized.
Dilian Francisca Toro Accuses Petro of “Political Vengeance”
Following the government’s inaction, Dilian Francisca Toro took to social media to directly criticize President Petro, accusing him of using political revenge to block progress in the region.
“President, you are taking political vengeance against Valle del Cauca due to the Congress’s independent stance,” Toro posted on X (formerly Twitter). “You are breaking national unity with your decisions. You are failing the people of Valle by going back on your campaign promises.”
She concluded her statement with sharp words:
“The people of Valle will keep moving forward — with or without you. We will continue working for our region’s transformation. Thank you for nothing, Mr. President.”
Petro Fires Back: “The Real Revenge Is Blocking Public Health Reform”
President Gustavo Petro responded just hours later, accusing Toro and her political allies of hypocrisy.
“Revenge against the people of Valle is the one exercised by those who prevent improvements in public health — just to preserve a system that allows the theft of billions from the people’s healthcare,” Petro wrote on X.
He defended his decision, explaining that his administration would prioritize railway routes that promote economic growth, including a railway corridor from Buenaventura to Yumbo, Urabá, and the Caribbean, rather than the Tren de Cercanías.
“The railway from Buenaventura will boost the regional economy and create long-term prosperity,” Petro said. “The Cauca Valley’s rail network must connect from Popayán to the Caribbean to unlock economic potential — not be reduced to smaller, limited projects.”
Local Leaders and Industry React
The decision has sparked frustration among Valle’s business chambers and civic organizations, including ProPacífico and the Intergremial Committee, who argue that the Tren de Cercanías already had technical and fiscal feasibility studies, unlike the Buenaventura-Yumbo project, which is still at the study and design bidding phase.
Edwin Maldonado, director of the Intergremial Committee, criticized the government’s reasoning:
“Future budget allocations were not a prerequisite for signing the agreement. Bogotá and Cundinamarca received approval for similar transport projects without them.”
What’s Next for the Tren de Cercanías Project
The Tren de Cercanías del Valle remains one of the most anticipated infrastructure projects in southwestern Colombia. Designed as an electric light-rail system, it aims to ease congestion in the Cali metropolitan area and offer an eco-friendly alternative for urban commuters.
However, with political tensions escalating, experts fear that the project’s timeline could face further delays unless both sides — national and regional — reach a compromise.
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