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The federal government is planning a new highway concession model, aiming at “light” contracts to attract the private sector and offer cheaper tolls. Sections will be offered in RJ, MG, GO, SC and BA.
Next year, a strategic shift in concessions federal highways promises to spark the interest of investors and impact drivers in several regions of Brazil.
The concession of these routes will occur with “lean” contracts – known as the “light” model.
This new format stands out for requiring less investment and making contractual obligations more flexible, arousing curiosity and speculation about its benefits and challenges.
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The proposal could result in lower tolls, but it raises questions about the maintenance and quality of highway services. But how will these changes actually benefit users?
New concession model
The “light” concession is the highlight of the government’s strategies to attract investment in the infrastructure sector.
According to George Santoro, executive secretary of the Ministry of Transport, the objective is to grant, by the second half of 2025, six highways distributed between Bahia, Espírito Santo, Goiás, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, with contracts that ask less from the private sector and offer faster financial returns.
What changes in the 'light' contract?
The model reduces the traditional requirements for lane duplication and major works, focusing investment on essential improvements such as track maintenance, signage and possible adjustments to the route.
This limited focus aims to make viable highway concessions with less vehicle traffic, but with significant cargo transportation, thus reducing the cost and toll rate.
Santoro clarifies that these concessions will not require robust infrastructure, since the flow of vehicles does not justify duplications or major works.
For him, “the difference in this auction is the type of service; on low-flow highways, the focus is to restore the basic quality of the road without burdening the toll with unnecessary investments”.
Cost reduction and affordable tolls
The government's bet is that, by streamlining contracts, toll rates will become more affordable.
Today, in conventional contracts, the costs of rescue and emergency services, such as ambulances, are included in the tariff..
In the proposed model, the concessionaire company will not be responsible for these services, leaving owners or insurers to bear such expenses in the event of incidents.
This model seeks to balance financial viability for companies without burdening the user.
“With the new format, those who use it pay less, without including the cost of services for rare events in the toll,” says Santoro.
Maintenance and improvement of the basic structure will be a priority, allowing for efficient service, but without the additional cost of towing and emergency medical care.
Highways included in the concession plan
The following highways are scheduled for concession under the “light” model:
BR 393 in Rio de Janeiro: the famous Rodovia do Aço, which connects strategic points and is in the process of canceling its contract with the current operator.
BR 356 and state highway RJ-240: important for the flow of cargo to the Port of Açu, in Rio, and Minas Gerais. An agreement between the federal government and Rio de Janeiro will allow the inclusion of this highway in the package.
BR 242 and BR 101 in Bahia: both divided into several lots.
BR 040 in Goias: another relevant section of cargo.
BR 262 in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo: road that connects states and serves as an important route for transporting goods.
Highways of Santa Catarina: with specific sections still under analysis.
Investment and priority in recovery
The new concession model requires that the initial investment of concessionaires be directed towards recovery and improvement of track conditions and signage, with the possibility of adjusting the route where necessary.
This investment aims to increase the safety and functionality of the highway without the high costs of a complete infrastructure.
These highways were chosen by the government precisely because they have characteristics that facilitate a light concession: less vehicle flow and an important role in cargo transportation, characteristics that attract interest from investors due to the cost-benefit ratio.
Thus, tolls are expected to be cheaper and proportional to usage, without burdening frequent users.
Government's view on the new model
According to George Santoro, the “light” model attempts to solve a problem faced on less busy highways, which do not attract large investments.
For him, by focusing on lower-cost projects and flexible contracts, the government aims to give new uses to strategic roads and promote economic development in areas further away from large urban centers.
“These are highways with a significant volume of cargo, but which do not require duplication or major works,” Santoro highlights. He believes that by attracting investors with this approach, the infrastructure can be improved without high costs for society.
The impact on users
While the government believes the model will reduce fares and keep highways in good condition, critics question whether the lack of emergency services could compromise safety in the event of an accident.
After all, highways without ambulance and tow truck coverage, although cheaper, can put drivers in challenging situations.
With this project, the government is trying to reconcile the interests of investors and the need to improve strategic highways for the flow of cargo without increasing costs for users.
But the question remains: Will the “light” model be able to offer good infrastructure with lower fares, without compromising driver safety?
