The Government has begun the restoration and enhancement of the Ybytymí Train Station in the Department of Paraguarí. Realisation of the restoration is going through the Tekorenda Programme. The work is made in coordination with the National Secretariat of Culture. This project is part of the ongoing efforts to recover heritage assets. Additionally, it aims to strengthen the connection between heritage, the community, and local development.
What it means for the region
During the ceremony held at the Ybytymí Train Station, the Minister of Culture, Adriana Ortiz, states that the start of the restoration represents, “a clear message from a Paraguayan Government that listens to its people and is reborn through its historical memory.” She also highlighted the collaborative work between public institutions, technical teams, and the contracted companies. She emphasised the impact the project will have on the community. “This investment, through the Tekorenda Programme, not only means restoring a building, but also generating dignified work and learning to care for what we have, which is the heritage that saw us born,” she notes.
The Governor of the Paraguarí Department, Norma Zárate, emphasised that the project strengthens the community’s railway identity and history. Additionally, she states that it also opens new opportunities for the department’s development. This project is reaffirming the departmental government’s commitment to supporting and sustaining this heritage recovery process.
Meanwhile, Miriam Vera Forcado, representative of the District Heritage Recovery Commission, highlighted the social impact of the start of the works and their symbolic value for the community. She especially valued the work done in conjunction with the former railway workers. “We have learned many valuable stories and anecdotes, and seeing the joy of those who built and maintained this space today is immense. Today, this is a reality,” she expresses.
Ybytymí Train Station
The project represents an investment of US$148 million and includes the restoration of the station building using technical criteria for heritage conservation. The aim is to develop the space for cultural, social, and community uses.
Ybytymí Train Station, located in the Department of Paraguarí, is a heritage site of great historical value. The station is associated with the development of the railway in Paraguay during the 19th century. Its construction is linked to the period of railway infrastructure development undertaken during the government of Don Carlos Antonio López, within the framework of the Carlos Antonio López Railway.
Over time, the station formed part of the railway system that contributed to the economic and social development of the region. The Ybytymí Train Station establishing itself as a landmark for mobility, trade, and the daily life of the community. Its preservation is part of a historical continuity that recognises the railway as a fundamental part of local memory and identity.
Tekorenda Programme
The Tekorenda Programme is an initiative of the Government of Paraguay, created by Presidential Decree No. 2464/2024 and coordinated by the National Secretariat of Culture. Tekorenda promotes the recovery and sustainability of heritage sites of high historical and symbolic value.
The programme has an initial investment of US$5 million for a first stage of intervention in eight heritage sites in the country. Tekorenda coordinates the work of public institutions and strategic partners such as ITAIPU Binacional, the ITAIPU Technological Park (PTI), CAF and UNDP. The aim is to integrate conservation actions like the Ybytymí Train Station. Furthermore, to have more citizen participation and training to strengthen the link between heritage, territory and community.
Further read: All Aboard! Exploring The Central Station Railway Museum In Asunción.
