Cali bets on the MIO's own fleet: they approve a million-dollar loan that reopens the discussion on the concession model

The Concejo Distrital de Cali approved in its second session the project of agreement 096, authorizing the commitment of resources from the 2027 budget amounting to $285 billion for the acquisition of 340 new public buses for the Integrated Mass Transit System (MIO). The initiative aims to strengthen the financial sustainability and operational capacity of the system, benefiting more than 299,000 users. The measure received support from 18 council members and will now undergo review and approval by Mayor Alejandro Eder before being managed by the Secretariat of Mobility and Metrocali for vehicle delivery and importation with a target completion date of 2027. The financing structure includes a total commitment of $330 billion, combining the $285 billion allocated for 2027 with $45 billion already assigned for 2026. This operation will be facilitated through a loan and supported by the revenue from the gasoline surcharge, a mechanism previously authorized under Agreement 0563 of 2023. This ensures that current income streams with free allocation remain unaffected. According to the presenters, Councilors Flower Enrique Rojas Torres and Juan Felipe Murgueitio Bustamante, acquiring public ownership of the vehicles will allow a transition toward a model that gradually eliminates the capital component within the concession tariff. This is projected to save over $350 billion, reducing fiscal pressure on the district’s finances. The operational impact of the new fleet is significant. According to data provided by Metrocali, the 340 buses will enable coverage of 63 percent more kilometers per month, translating into increased route frequencies. Additionally, between 100 and 150 currently well-maintained buses from the existing fleet will be transferred to Metrocali to reinforce the Public Transportation Complementary (TPC) service. The integration of these units brings specific technical and environmental improvements: Video surveillance coverage will increase from 85 percent to 100 percent. Accessibility for persons with disabilities will rise from 65 percent to 92 percent. Availability of air conditioning will improve from 80 percent to 93 percent. Environmental impact will see an estimated reduction of 21,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent annually. The new fleet will be owned by the district and operated by concessionaires under an administration scheme involving digital telemetry monitoring and five maintenance management indicators. During discussions in the chamber, council members such as Fabio Alonso Arroyave Botero, Rodrigo Salazar Sarmiento, and Carlos Andrés Arias Rueda supported the measure as a strategic step toward achieving financial closure, combating informal transportation, and advancing intermodal integration. They also highlighted the projection that Metrocali will take operational control of the system in the medium term and suggested extending alternatives like the MIO Cable to communities on the hillside. Concealed councilwoman María del Carmen Londoño Sanna cast her vote against the project. She argued that the use of future ordinary validity constitutes a benefit for operators. Her concerns were not elaborated further in the available records.