Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos has backed a project to build a metro system in capital Bogotá, provided it is properly structured and not carried out hastily, according to a presidential release.

 

During a meeting at the transport ministry, Santos said the project cannot go any further until an agreement has been reached regarding the route of the metro's line 1.

 

"The government will not begin a project if each stage is not well structured," said Santos, adding: "This leads to problems, revisions, lawsuits, changes in design, and an increase in costs."

 

The president said work on the project, initially slated to begin in March, may well be pushed back, adding that the most important thing is to make the right decisions and optimize the use of resources for the project.

 

Bogotá's first subway line will run from the south to the west of the city.

 

UK-based consultancy firm Steer Davies Gleave will perform studies for the transport system, which should begin in February and wrap up by June.