Santo Domingo.- At least 20 families who live in a slum of the sector Los Guandules yesterday said they received last week from RD$140,000 to RD$300,000 from the Transport Reform Office (Opret) to expropriate their property claims, and clear the way to build the Santo Domingo Metro’s second line.

"For that small house they gave us RD$140,000," said Lucy Esther Nova to news source diariolibre.com, adding that they were told the works would begin in January.

Although Juan Francisco Gil isn’t part of the group which got paid, he said his house is pending for a second stage. Some who affirm getting paid say they met with Opret officials in its offices four times prior to receiving the money.

They said the idea is to move the sector, located underneath the bridge "La 17" to make way for a parallel bridge to be built for the Metro. But some of those who’ll be evicted demand at least RD$600,000 and a lot since they prefer to live in their own dwelling and not rent.

The Government says it’s not for the Metro

Opret spokesman Leonel Carrasco yesterday denied that the eviction of families is to build the second line. He said Opret works in a "cleanup project," adding that the area need for the project is at Gualey and not Los Guandules, a zone chosen to affect the fewest families. "The Opret has said there won’t be massive evictions for the second line. It’s in Gualey, and not Los Guandules, we have to do this with 24 families."