Mexico’s infra ministry sees more leadership changes

Jesús Felipe Verdugo López (pictured, right) assumed the post of Mexico's deputy infrastructure, communications and transport minister.

The move comes after President Andrés Manuel López Obrador named Jorge Nuño Lara (pictured, left) infrastructure, communications and transport minister on November 15. Nuño Lara served as deputy minister under Jorge Arganis Díaz Leal, who resigned due to health problems. 

Verdugo, who has worked 33 years at the infrastructure, communications and transport ministry (SICT), will now oversee key infrastructure projects such as the priority highway portfolio. Other key projects include the 25bn-peso (US$1.22bn) Lechería rail branch which will connect Mexico City and the Felipe Ángeles international airport (AIFA) in Mexico state, and the 93bn-peso Mexico City-Toluca interurban train.

During the 2022 world highway association (PIARC) seminar on Thursday, Nuño Lara said the ministry will present its 2022-31 highway and rail plan before the year ends. 

"What we envision for the following years is that these measures increase the quality of long-term investments, improve the efficiency of projects, as well as their budgetary efficiency, for the benefit of the communities," he said.

In October, López Obrador appointed Evaristo Iván Ángeles Zermeño head of rail regulator ARTF and pilot Miguel Enrique Vallín Osuna head of civil aviation authority AFAC.