New Land Expropriations for Tren Maya Project Announced

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The federal government, through the Secretariat of Agrarian, Territorial, and Urban Development (Sedatu), has announced a new round of expropriations to advance the construction of the Tren Maya, a priority infrastructure project in the southeastern region of Mexico. A total of 11.54 hectares of privately owned land across seven municipalities will be expropriated for sections 1, 4, and 6 of the railway.

Details of the Expropriated Land

Among the affected properties is a 3,000-square-meter plot in Bacalar, Quintana Roo, identified by the cadastral reference 0102-027-0000-000149. This land, along with 17 other properties in Chiapas, Campeche, Tabasco, and Yucatán, will be transferred to Tren Maya S.A. de C.V., pending any legal objections filed within the 15-day period following the second official publication of the decree in the Diario Oficial de la Federación.

The additional expropriated properties include:

• Nine plots in Palenque, Chiapas
• Three in Escárcega, Campeche
• One each in the Tabasco municipalities of Emiliano Zapata, Balancán, and Tenosique
• Two in Valladolid, Yucatán

Combined, these properties cover 115,428.18 square meters.

Legal Process and Owner Rights

Fonatur Tren Maya S.A. de C.V. and Tren Maya S.A. de C.V. formally requested Sedatu in October 2024 to initiate the expropriation process, citing the land as essential for the railway’s development. Property owners have 15 business days from notification or the second publication of the decree to file objections or present evidence before Sedatu’s Legal Affairs Unit.

The government has also authorized the possibility of early occupancy agreements, allowing authorities to take possession of the land before the formal expropriation process concludes, expediting construction.

Controversy Surrounding the Tren Maya

Since its announcement, the Tren Maya project has faced mixed reactions, with debates over its regional economic benefits, environmental impact, land rights, and expropriation procedures. Critics have raised concerns about irreversible ecological damage and legal disputes, while proponents emphasize its potential to boost infrastructure and tourism in the region.

The latest expropriation decree underscores the government’s commitment to advancing the project despite ongoing controversies.