The consortium, which includes China Communications Construction Company, Cosh Group, Eyasa and Gavil Engineering, submitted a bid of Pesos 15.5bn ($US 622.7m).

The first section consists of the Palenque, Chiapas - Escárcega, Campeche section of the line, and includes upgrading the existing Chiapas - Mayab line.

Work will begin on April 30 with measures in place to protect workers after president Mr Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered work on priority projects to continue during the coronavirus pandemic to mitigate the economic consequences of Covid-19.

The 14 bids received from the tender were analysed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which found the offer from the consortium represented the best value for money.

The consortium is one of 15 bidders competing for section 2 of the project, will run from Escárcega to Calkiní, with the winner due to be announced on April 30. The tender for the third section from Calkini to Izamal is still open. Section four will run from Izamal to Tulum and section five will run from Tulum to Cancun.

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