Panama to Announce Tender for Metro Station Parking

Metro Director César Pinzon announced that the tender for the parking service concession at the Villa Zaita Metro station will be published in the coming days. He mentioned that a meeting was held this week with the consultant and the personnel in charge of the Panama Metro's fare system. Pinzon explained that when these situations arise, it is not because of mistakes, but because the quality does not meet the metro's standards. "Managing a mall parking lot is not the same as managing one with an interchange, a polyclinic, and a metro," he stated. Regarding the concession, Pinzon clarified that it is necessary due to the complexity of managing these parking facilities. "We are ready to publish the tender for this concession," he said. In relation to the removal of slabs in areas adjacent to the metro, Pinzon explained that it is because they do not meet the required specifications, as recently happened. He added that all replacement costs are borne by the contractor, not the state. "Those slabs were demolished because during their pouring, there was an unexpected 30-minute downpour that altered the concrete's water-cement ratio, and we asked the contractor to demolish them as soon as possible," Pinzon explained. "That has already happened," Pinzon said. "That has put us in a complex situation," he stated. In turn, Deputy Neftali Zamora recalled that the idea of having parking lots is to help people get around on the metro, leaving their car in a safe and economical place.