Sinfra plans to complete BRT works between Cuiabá and Várzea Grande by December 2026

During the presentation, the representatives detailed the changes in the project of the 77 stations, the work execution schedule, the future implementation of the Avenida Fernando Corrêa da Costa corridor, the acquisition of electric buses and the measures adopted by the State Government after the termination of the contract with the first company responsible for carrying out the project.

Before leaving the public hearing, Marcelo Oliveira stated that the sale of the trains and the auction of remaining materials from the old Light Rail Vehicle (VLT) should generate more than R$1 billion in resources for public coffers. The secretary also refuted criticism of the execution of the works on the new transport system and highlighted that the team had to face challenges arising from population growth and the increase in the vehicle fleet between 2012 and 2024.

According to Oliveira, the first company hired to carry out the project was unable to fulfill its obligations under the contract, which led the State Government to terminate the agreement, apply penalties and reformulate the model for carrying out the works. He added that, during the execution of the work in Várzea Grande, the municipal management at the time also imposed difficulties that, according to him, compromised the progress of the project.

Regarding the implementation of the Avenida Fernando Corrêa da Costa corridor, Sinfra's Deputy Secretary for Works, Isac Nascimento, informed that the tender has not yet been launched and, therefore, there are no resources committed to carrying out the work. According to him, work on this stretch should only begin next year. Nascimento also confirmed that the process of acquiring electric buses is ongoing internally at Sinfra.

The BRT section between Cuiabá and Várzea Grande will be 15 kilometers long, while the Avenida Fernando Corrêa da Costa corridor will be approximately seven kilometers long. Isac Nascimento also stated that the 77 station project underwent a reformulation to offer greater quality, safety and durability to users. On the stretch between Cuiabá and Várzea Grande, 25 electric buses will be used to serve the population.

Asked about the bidding process for the continuation of the works, Nascimento explained that the State identified the need to improve the original project, replacing items initially planned, such as the conventional air conditioning system, which will be exchanged for industrial equipment. The new project also foresees the installation of anti-vandal glass and other structural improvements at the stations.

The deputy secretary informed that the initial schedule for Lot 1 of the BRT works, corresponding to the first structural public transport corridor between the Várzea Grande Terminal and the CPA Terminal, in Cuiabá, provided for the completion of the services in six months, with the simultaneous opening of seven work fronts in the section between the Sefaz Viaduct and the Júlio Müller Bridge.

However, according to him, the strategy needed to be revised after the opening of the first works front, when the impacts on traffic provoked complaints from the population and repercussions in the press. According to Nascimento, if all fronts were opened at the same time, according to initial planning, there would be a risk of collapse in urban mobility in Cuiabá, which required a review of the execution schedule.

"The execution of the work began to be carried out gradually, in permanent alignment with the Municipal Secretariat of Urban Mobility (Semob), responsible for managing traffic in the capital. The interventions are planned together to define which sections can be closed, also considering other works in progress in the city, such as those carried out by the water supply and sewage concessionaire", explained the deputy secretary of Sinfra.