Santos-Guarujá Tunnel Secures R$50 Million Boost for Project Update

The R$ 50 million earmarked for the Santos Port Authority (APS) following approval by the Chamber of Deputies last week will be utilized for updating the executive project of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel and obtaining the environmental license renewal for the project, as confirmed by APS to A Tribuna.

According to the Port Authority, the funds were requested in 2023. “But its effective use can only be realized next year due to the approval in the last days of this year,” APS stated.

Approval

On the 21st of this month, the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília approved additional values in the Union Budget for this year. Among them is Bill (PL) 36/2023, which opens up a special credit of R$ 70.9 million, allocated between APS (R$ 50 million), Port Authority of Rio de Janeiro (R$ 2.9 million, for contractual renegotiation and maintenance of the signaling system at the Port of Itaguaí), and Infraero (R$ 18 million, for expansion and adaptation works at 13 airports nationwide, including improvements to the runway in Foz do Iguaçu).

Regional representation

Last Wednesday, the report had already been approved by the Joint Budget Committee. The bill, whose rapporteur is federal deputy Alberto Mourão (MDB), now heads for presidential sanction.

“The tunnel will optimize the flow of passengers and cargo while eliminating limitations on the road and highway system, providing greater traffic flow and better integration between cities, and, especially, increased safety in ship maneuvers, reducing the risks of accidents and creating a safer navigation environment,” wrote Mourão in the report.

In the document, the deputy also mentions that, according to the Explanatory Note No. 118/2023 from the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, the construction of the tunnel will not interfere with the depth of the navigation channel, ensuring that vessels can operate without restrictions, thus preserving port activity. “The credit will be financed with resources from the company’s ‘own generation,'” concludes the report.

What now?

It is worth noting that on the 20th, APS formally launched the construction of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel, with the approval of the Board of Directors for hiring the Vanzolini Foundation to develop the legal and economic modeling of the project.

The contract with the Vanzolini Foundation spans 18 months, but the deadline for completing the project is up to ten months. The cost will be R$ 19 million. Construction of the project is expected to commence in late 2024.

Source: A Tribuna

Click here to red the original piece: https://www.atribuna.com.br/noticias/portomar/tunel-santos-guaruja-tera-r-50-milhoes-para-atualizar-projeto

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