Aleesha Hansel
Politicians in Axarquia are urging the Junta de Andalucia not to forget them during plans to build new high-speed railway.
The long discussed AVE service, which will stretch from Malaga to Estepona at a cost of more that €3.8 billions, has prompted numerous mayors and officials to express concern that Axarquia will become a ‘poor cousin’ if left out.
Francisco Delgado Bonilla, MP for Malaga and opposition councillor in Vélez said: “The Costa del Sol doesn’t just run from Malaga to Estepona. It is the stretch between El Palo and Nerja as well, and we need to demand that the railway be extended along the eastern coast too.”
“We’re always being left out. The government and the Junta de Andalucía shouldn’t only plan for Malaga to Estepona. People from all political parties need to defend the interests of our area,” he said.
The mayor of Benamocarra, Abedeslam Lucena, said: “There is enormous potential for tourism such as Nerja and Frigiliana, but while projects costing millions of euros are being planned for the western Costa del Sol, we are being abandoned. The government and the Junta should start to think seriously about extending the railway from Malaga to Nerja.”
