2024 ends with more road blockades than expected, according to Colfecar
The increase in blockades on national roads has been a constant problem that affects both productivity and the exercise of fundamental rights.
In 2024, road blockades registered a significant increase, reaching 801 cases, 8% more than in 2023, according to data from the Colombian Federation of Cargo Transporters and Logistics (Colfecar).
This panorama reflects the growing tension between communities seeking to be heard and the negative impact on transportation, the economy and free movement.
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Increase in road blockades and economic losses
In 2024, road blockades caused economic losses of $4.3 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion over the previous year. This impact mainly affects the transportation industry, which faced 12,018 hours of interruption, a 30% increase in lost time compared to 2023.
Colfecar’s figures also reveal that September and October were the most critical months, registering 149 blockades in a single month. These blockades not only affect cargo transportation, but also key sectors such as tourism, domestic production and foreign trade.
In addition, the distribution of fuel and food has been seriously compromised, causing shortages in several regions of the country.
Main causes of road blockades
The reasons behind the road blockades are diverse, reflecting the demands of different communities. Among the main reasons are:
- Energy service rates: 13 %.
- Poor condition of secondary roads: 10 %.
- Water service rates: 8 %.
- Educational issues: 7 %.
- Cost of tolls: 7 %.
Departments such as Bolívar, Atlántico, Antioquia, Córdoba and Cundinamarca are the most affected, with strategic corridors such as the Pan-American Highway and the Medellín-Costa Caribe route being the critical points.
What is the social and economic impact?
The increase in road blockades generates a double impact. On the one hand, communities organize these actions as a last resort to be heard, evidencing failures in the channels of dialogue between the State and citizens. On the other hand, the consequences fall directly on the productive sectors and on the rights of citizens who depend on free transit.
In the words of Nidia Hernández, executive president of Colfecar, “the current permissiveness fosters a cyclical crisis that affects transporters, businessmen and consumers alike”. These interruptions also affect the country’s competitiveness, discouraging investments and jeopardizing the stability of several sectors.
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Proposals to mitigate the problem
The transport union and other affected actors have proposed solutions aimed at reducing the impact of road blockades. Among the main initiatives are:
- Design and implementation of an attention protocol that prioritizes prevention and the immediate unblocking of roads.
- Deployment of officials with negotiation capacity at critical points.
- Guarantee of compliance with commitments acquired with the communities to avoid relapses.
- Strengthening of road infrastructure and solution to historical problems in critical regions.
But what is the bottom line?
The increase in road blockades is a reflection of structural problems in the relationship between the communities and the State. While the communities consider these actions as necessary to make their demands visible, the transport unions and other affected sectors demand greater intervention by the authorities to guarantee free transit and mitigate economic losses.
The situation requires comprehensive solutions that balance the needs of the protesters and the rights of those affected by the blockades. Both the government and the sectors involved should prioritize dialogue and the implementation of structural measures to prevent this problem from continuing to escalate in the coming years.
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