The year’s biggest road tender is moving forward steadily, and with it the usual suspects return: Cristóbal López and other defendants in the Cuadernos mega-case. In Stage II-B of the Federal Concession Network, which includes the Mediterranean, Puntano, Portuario Sur, and Portuario Norte sections, 13 bidders submitted 31 proposals. The business is lucrative: to exploit, manage, and maintain more than 2,500 kilometers of national highways for at least 20 years, with tolls as the main revenue source.
This week, the second envelope of the tender, corresponding to the economic proposal, was opened. In it, companies detailed how much they would charge per 100 kilometers. The first envelope, with technical background, had already been opened on May 11. Now, the National Highway Authority will evaluate both offers to determine the award, which will not necessarily go to the lowest toll bidder.
In the Mediterranean section, which runs along national highways 7 and 35 in Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Córdoba, ten bidders presented offers. Among them, José Cartellone, with four executives sitting in the defendants’ dock in the Cuadernos case, associated with Guigivan, offered $2,298. CPC, Cristóbal López’s company, offered $2,410. Panedile Argentina, of the repentant Hugo Dragonetti, quoted $2,487. And Rovella Carranza, another repentant in Cuadernos, proposed $2,603.31. The lowest bid was from Creditech, with $1,989.67, and the highest from Luciano Construcciones, with $3,086.
For the Puntano section, covering 720 kilometers on highways 8, 36, 193, and A-005 in San Luis, Córdoba, Santa Fe, and Buenos Aires, nine bidders presented offers. BASAA made the lowest bid, with $1,440, while Luciano Construcciones proposed the highest, $2,195. In between are CN Sapag, Rovella Carranza, Creditech, Panedile, CPC, IEB Construcciones, and José J. Chediack.
In the Portuario Sur section, 636.75 kilometers on highways 9 and 188 in Buenos Aires and La Pampa, there were seven bidders. Creditech offered the lowest toll, $1,256.03, and BASAA the highest, $2,244.99. Also presenting were Paolini, CPC, Panedile, IEB, and Concret Nor. In the Portuario Norte section, 528.04 kilometers on highways 9, 33, and A-008 in Santa Fe and Buenos Aires, CPC made the lowest bid, $1,856, and BASAA the highest, $3,337.60. In between are Panedile, IEB, and Creditech.
The government insists on presenting this scheme as a break from the previous model. According to the National Highway Authority, the new system will be developed «without public sector subsidies,» leaving behind «deficit schemes.» But the reality is that the same usual actors, many with criminal cases pending, are once again fighting for the toll business. Meanwhile, users will continue to pay the cost of highways that, according to promises, will be in optimal condition. Will it be true or just another chapter of the same story?
Para mí estos son los mismos chorros de siempre, los López y los de Cuadernos, volviendo a chorear con los peajes. Me parece un asco que nos arruinaron el país y ahora quieren cobrarnos hasta por respirar. Yo creo que hay que votar a Milei carajo, esto huele a más corrupción.
Para mí esto huele a los mismos amigos de CFK devuelta en la ruta, che. Mientras nos rompen el orto con los peajes, estos chorros de guante blanco se llenan los bolsillos. Yo creo que no nos vamos a arrodillar ante los corruptos de siempre. Fuera el ajuste y los ladrones de la causa Cuadernos!