Brazil has 47 applications for the construction of railways, says Marco Legal rapporteur

The Marco das Ferrovias, which is being voted on in the Chamber, will allow requests for the construction of railroads by the private sector to get off the ground. This is the perspective of the project’s rapporteur, Deputy Zé Victor (PL-MG), who spoke to CNN this Tuesday (14) and mentioned that 47 requests for the construction of railway lines are stopped.

“The legal framework interferes with all legislation on the topic of railways, bridges and concessions, concession renewals, construction on the margins of railways, and we are talking about a novelty that is authorizations, which is the possibility for the private sector to build and operate railway lines in Brazil”, explains the deputy.

The 47 orders, covering 15 states, if authorized and taken to completion, could mean R$ 150 billion in investments and the construction of 12 km of railways.

“It is a sign that there is a shortage. The railway system, which currently occupies 20% of the transport matrix, could reach 35 or 40% in 15 years”, says Zé Victor.

The Legal Framework for Railways must allow private companies, through concessions or authorizations, not only to build but to operate railway lines of all sizes, and that serve both the transport of people and goods.

Today, Brazil has approximately 30 km of railway, with only a third of that in full operation, says the deputy.

The rapporteur’s expectation is that there will be a jump in investments as of next year, when the planned expenditure on the railway system is around R$ 25 billion, “very low” in the deputy’s opinion.

“Authorizations manage to reach where the government, due to lack of financial strength, is no longer able to reach. In addition to the authorizations, this entire environment for the renovation of cross-investment constructions will allow for a more modern rail system and bring more competitiveness,” he says.