Mexico to temporarily occupy private land for Yucatan train project

The multi-billion dollar project which the president hopes will boost local development has been held up by injunctions, with critics saying the 1,470-km line is being pushed through without proper environmental impact studies

Mexico will temporarily occupy private land in the eastern state of Quintana Roo order to complete a rail project that is one of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's top priorities, Qazet.az reports according to the government.

The decree states the government will take possession of 165,250 square meters in the municipalities of Solidaridad and Tulum in the Yucatan Peninsula in order to build infrastructure for the so-called Mayan Train project.

Issued in the government's official gazette, the decree noted the constitution mandates expropriations may only be made for reasons of "public utility" and must offer compensation, and that railways are a priority area for national development.