The federal government has decreed the expropriation of 102.19 hectares of ejido land in the municipality of Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo, for the Maya Train railway project, according to a decree published Tuesday in Mexico’s Official Gazette (Diario Oficial de la Federación, DOF).
The expropriated land belongs to the Juan Sarabia ejido and will be transferred to Tren Maya, S.A. de C.V. for the construction of railway infrastructure, operation of the project, and development of complementary works.
Of the total expropriated area, 67.69 hectares are classified as common-use land, while 34.49 hectares are parceled farmland, all designated as rain-fed agricultural land.
Ejido Members to Receive Compensation
According to the Institute for the Administration and Appraisal of National Assets (Indaabin), the total compensation amounts to 160,739,231.97 pesos.
The payment will be distributed between the ejido for the common-use land and the individual parcel holders according to their legal property rights.
The decree states that Tren Maya, S.A. de C.V. must demonstrate that the compensation has been paid, or allocate the necessary funds from its approved budget, before the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu) formally executes the expropriation.
Public Interest Justification
The federal government justified the expropriation on the grounds of public utility, stating that the land will be used for the construction and operation of the Maya Train and for providing public passenger and freight rail transportation services.
According to the decree, the Maya Train is considered one of Mexico’s most significant infrastructure projects and is expected to:
- Strengthen connectivity across the Yucatán Peninsula.
- Boost trade and diversify the region’s tourism industry.
- Promote economic development throughout southeastern Mexico.
- Create employment opportunities.
- Help redistribute economic growth.
- Improve access to communities in the southeast through a humanitarian transportation corridor.
- Reinforce security along Mexico’s southern border with Central America.
The document also notes that the original request sought the expropriation of 102.23 hectares, but technical surveys conducted in 2024 determined that the actual affected area totaled 102.19 hectares, which is the figure established in the presidential decree.
Finally, the decree states that members of the Juan Sarabia ejido were granted their legal right to be heard during the process, and no objections or formal challenges were submitted within the legally established period.
Source: laverdadnoticias
