Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Transports and Communications Minister, Enrique Cornejo, said that investors from China, Brazil and Spain are interested in becoming in charge of the impending works for the completion of Lima's electric train.

The minister announced that his administration wants to get the bases for the public contest ready for today, so that within a week the tenders should be delivered, and the winners would be announced later this month.

He added that the winner will be in charge not only of the infrastructure, but also of the wagons and electrical system, as well as the line operations.

The Andean Corporation for Development (CAF) approved recently a credit of $ 300 million to complete these works, and according to Cornejo, this would accounts for 55% of the total estimated project cost.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

About 77,000 cars have been adapted to  run on Vehicular Natural Gas (GNV in Spanish) in Peru, and it is expected that this figure will rise up to 85,000 by the end of this year, said Jorge Juárez, President of the Peruvian Chamber of Vehicular Natural Gas.

These figures are very close to the 90,000 conversions that were foreseen, while the number of these conversions during 2008 was 57,419.

The average number of conversions per month is between 2,000 and 2,500 vehicles.

Juárez also stated that the granting of loans for these conversions continues without difficulties, and some S/. 80 million soles will have been used for this purpose by the end of this year.

 The average cost of converting a car into the GNV system in Peru is US $1,000 or US $ 1,200.

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In the jungle within the district of Puno, eight school children were killed, and another 40 people were injured when an omnibus fell into an abyss 150 meters deep. According to Peru21, the vehicle belonged to the company Perlas del Sur, and was rented for a school field trip.

The cause of the fall is unknown. Seven of the children were killed upon impact, while one died later in a local hospital.

The victims ranged in age from 15 to 17 years old, while those injured range from teachers to parents to classmates. The children were attending the Agro-industrial high school César Vallejo and were traveling to participate in the festival celebrating the anniversary of the district Alto Inambari.

The local police blame the 22 year-old driver for the accident, citing the fact that he did not carry a driver’s license nor was he insured with Obligatory Transit Accident Insurance (SOAT).

The Municipality of Miraflores, due to a educational campaign about safety in the streets, has reduced the number of transit accidents, according to El Comercio.

Juan Dulanto, Manager of Citizen Security in the Municipality of Miraflroes, states that “the first step in the improvements of the transit system began with the removal of combis from the streets Larco, Diagonal, Pardo and Benavides. Then, the fact that taxis were not allowed to stop in the avenue Larco […] And finally, the installation of smart stoplights and bus-stops on the principal streets.”

According to Luis Vargas, the assistant manager of Vehicular Traffic of Miraflores, stated that these measures have prevented the exponential increase in traffic accidents. He states that “between 2004 and 2007 there were between eight and ten traffic accidents a day. Now, the average is from four to five.”

Noise has also decreased, due to a campaign against the improper use of horns. Sound contamination has lowered 8 decibels, bringing the average sound level on Larco avenue from 70 decibels to 62.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Executive and the Regional Governments of Lambayeque, Piura and Cajamarca, and the mining companies currently executing projects in said regions, signed an agreement today, committing to work on the construction of the North Andean Railway, considered to be essential for the development of the country.

Peru's President, Alan García, explained that the North Andean Railway will allow the transport of all the minerals obtained from the mines near Cajamarca to Bayóvar Port (Piura), something that is quite impractical using only the regional roads.

The Peruvian leader said that this ambitious project will add two percentage points to the country's annual GDP growth because it will boost the economy of Cajamarca, Lambayeque and Piura regions.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Ferrocarril Transandino (Fetransa), rail concessionaire in Southern and Southeastern Peru, is currently evaluating the possibility of building a railway to connect Peru with Brazil, according to Rómulo Guidino, Fetransa's General Manager.

“We could connect Tirapata (near Juliaca), passing by Puerto Maldonado (Madre de Dios), to Iñapari (near the border with Brazil),” he told the press today, remarking that it could also be connected with the Brazilian city of Asis.

“A project of this magnitude would need an investment of over US$1 billion, with an average construction time from 5 to 7 years,” he said.

Guidino said that a document with the proposal will be ready by the end of 2009 or in 2010.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Andean Development Corporation (CAF) has approved a loan amounting US $300 millions, to be used in finishing and putting in service the Villa El Salvador – Grau Avenue sector of the Lima's Electric Train.

This amount is supposed to cover 55% of the project, which estimated total cost is US $549 million dollars.

The works will be executed by Peru's Ministry of Transports and Communications, through the Autonomous Authority of the Special Project for Lima & Callao Mass Transport, which is supposed to afford the other 45% of the budget.

Enrique Garcia, CAF's Executive President, said that CAF prioritizes projects intended to improve urban population's quality of life, and to provide public transportation services for the less-favoured citizens.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Ferrocarril Transandino, (Fetransa), the current concessionaire of the southern railways in Peru, is to present this week its proposal of new contracts for the new operators to work on the Cusco-Machu Picchu route, reported the Supervising Organization of the Investment in Infraestructure for Public Transportation (Ositran).

Ositran's President, Juan Carlos Zevallos, said that this institution is working to speed up the legal and administrative processes required in order to allow the new operators actually start working in the aforementioned route.

For that reason Ositran's representatives are having frequent meetings with Fetransa's executives.

"I can tell you that the negociations on this regard are pretty much advanced and we will finish soon, " added Zevallos.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian tourism officials have launched the route guide called “Lima-Huancayo Train: Adventure through the Andes,” the first one of its kind in the country.

The authors, Jose Luis Parra Pinto and Jorge Zelaya Alva, describe the 332-km trip between Lima and Huancayo, departing from Desamparados Train Station in the Historic Center of Lima to the heart of Huancayo in Junin region.

The guide also features the most important tourist attractions located across Mantaro Valley.

The book includes also describes the route's most popular tourist spots, such as stations, bridges, zigzags, tunnels and high-Andean zones, among other attractions.

The guide, sponsored by the Municipality of Santiago de Surco, Ferrocarril Central Andino S.A, Railroad Development Corporation and other local organizations, is available both in Spanish and English: it can be bought in the route or ordered by phone.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Charly Garcia, the famous Argentinian rocker, confirmed that he will perform  in Lima, and today the tickets officially went on sale.

As the date (September 23rd) for the long awaited return of one of the most important interpreters in Latin America gets closer, the expectations grow among his Peruvian fans.

Peru will be the first country to see Charly Garcia's show this time, since then concert in Lima opens the tour.

Garcia comes this time accompanied by Fabián “Zorrito” Von Quintiero, “Negro” García López and Hilda Lizarazu, as well as other musicians.

Tickets are on sale at Tu Entrada, in Plaza Vea and Vivanda, and the prices range from S/. 51 soles to S/. 297 soles.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.