On Monday, the ministerial committee of the José Antonio Kast administration approved investment projects for a new access point at Baquedano Station and the Maratué housing development in the Valparaíso region. The administrative body of the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA) rejected the challenges filed against both initiatives.
The ruling settles the status of modifications to Santiago Metro's Line 7, specifically regarding construction work for the Baquedano Station access. Led by the state-owned transport company, the project involves an $18 million investment.
The new entrance will be located in Parque José Domingo Gómez Rojas, in the Recoleta district, and will connect to the existing station via an underground pedestrian tunnel.
Progress in Puchuncaví
At the same time, the Committee resolved the controversy surrounding the Maratué Urban Housing Development in Puchuncaví. This $2.5 billion investment initiative aims to address the region's housing crisis.
The project plans for the construction of up to 14,180 homes over a 45-year period. The plan outlines an annual production of 300 housing units, ensuring that 70% of the homes serve as primary residences in the long term.
Of this total, at least 2,000 units will be subsidized through SERVIU projects. The master plan also includes 50% green space and a 125-hectare conservation zone.
Minister of the Environment Francisca Toledo presided over the session, stating that the Ministry supports the Environmental Evaluation Service's (SEA) plan to streamline processes. According to the Minister, this strategy aims to fulfill the presidential mandate to accelerate the review of appeals.
Meanwhile, Claudia Lería, director of the Maratué project, said the Committee's ruling is good news for the region. Lería noted that the decision confirms the project's technical soundness and provides the necessary certainty to move forward with environmental protection measures.
