Mexico's Maya Train Imperils Fragile Cave Ecosystem

Construction of the $30 billion project threatens ancient cenotes and underground rivers, sparking environmental and political controversy.

The Maya Train project aims to connect tourist hubs but runs over a delicate system of 10,000 subterranean caverns and cenotes.
Environmentalists report significant damage to stalactites and water contamination from the construction process.
President López Obrador fast-tracked the project, bypassing environmental impact studies and legal rulings.
Local communities are divided, with some seeing economic benefits and others fearing long-term environmental harm.
The project has intensified political clashes and raised concerns about the undermining of democratic institutions.