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ANTT Approved the Construction of the Serra Azul Railway Branch, Promising to Revolutionize Ore Transport and Ease the Dangerous BR.
The Promise of a New Logistic Horizon for Minas Gerais and Brazil Is Closer to Reality.
With the approval of the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT), the construction of a new railway branch, designed to transport tons of iron ore, promises to transform the transportation scenario on one of the busiest and most dangerous highways in the country: BR-381.
The proposal is ambitious: to replace the daily flow of heavy trucks crossing the road, reduce fatal accidents, and even cut carbon emissions.
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The project, called Serra Azul Railway Branch, is an initiative of Cedro Participações, which, after ANTT’s approval, plans to install a branch of 26 km in length between Mateus Leme and São Joaquim de Bicas, in the Greater Belo Horizonte area.
The railway line could absorb the transportation of up to 25 million tons of iron ore per year, removing about 5,000 trucks from the highway each day, according to Cedro Participações.
Export Opportunity and Risk Reduction
According to data from ANTT, the branch will connect to the Southeast Regional Network, the main railway line that runs through Minas Gerais toward Rio de Janeiro, ensuring the export of ore.
The expectation is that the project, in addition to easing the heavy traffic on BR-381, could generate thousands of jobs during the construction and operation phases.
BR-381, known as the “Highway of Death” due to the high number of fatal accidents, is one of the most dangerous stretches in the country.
In the last three years, around 400 deaths have been recorded on the route that crosses Serra Azul, in the metropolitan region of BH.
According to the Vice President of Legal and Institutional Affairs at Cedro, Eduardo Couto, the branch will not only transform the logistics of iron ore transportation but will also be an important step toward a more sustainable and secure economy.
“The infrastructure will help reduce carbon emissions by up to 40 million tons annually and will lower costs, benefiting the productive chain of the sector,” Couto explained.
Structure and Capacity: How the Railway Branch Will Be
According to Cedro’s plans, the branch will be operated by five trains with the capacity to carry up to 130 tons in 132 wagons.
Each of these trains represents a replacement for approximately 570 trucks, which will lead to a drastic reduction in heavy traffic on BR-381, improving flow and increasing safety for drivers and local communities.
However, the proposal did not move forward without resistance. MRS Logística, the concessionaire responsible for the Southeast Regional Network, questioned the project with ANTT, claiming that the decision was made hastily.
MRS sought to exercise its right of preference for the stretch, but its requests for deadline extensions were rejected by the agency.
Even with the approval, the dispute was taken to the Federal Regional Court, where MRS obtained a preliminary injunction to suspend the decision, in an attempt to reverse the authorization.
Impasse Between Companies and Legal Action
This disagreement between Cedro and MRS creates an impasse regarding the continuity of the project.
Cedro stated that the suspension obtained by MRS does not have a direct impact on ANTT’s approval, as the decision was officially published in the Official Gazette of the Union.
While the judicial decision is in effect, the infrastructure sector awaits a resolution that can ensure the execution of the branch and the realization of the proposed benefits.
For Felipe Fernandes Queiroz, director of ANTT, the measure is crucial for the advancement of railway infrastructure in Brazil.
In his words, “the goal is to promote the expansion of the railway system in the country, without allowing the procrastination of a project with the potential to transform regional safety and economy.”
Promise of Accident Reduction and Environmental Impact
The project has the potential to reduce accidents, improve road safety, and contribute to a more sustainable Brazil.
With the replacement of trucks by trains, there will be a significant decrease in pollutant gas emissions, according to Cedro.
This means that the impact will not only be economic but also environmental, aligning with sustainability guidelines that are increasingly demanded by society today.
For residents of regions like Mateus Leme and São Joaquim de Bicas, the branch could mean more peace, with less heavy vehicle traffic on the roads, fewer accidents, and consequently, a better quality of life.
But, with the disputes between companies and the judicial suspension, will this project ever take off? The impasse leaves the future of this mega structure open and the impacts it could bring to Minas Gerais and Brazil.
Que não seja, só para as cargas.
Tomará que n̈enhum “Quinta coluna” embargue a obra.
Na verdade , não vai afetar o trecho que é chamado de “rodovia da morte ” …. Vai aliviar na região metropolitana Entre BH e Igarapé . Não no trecho BH a Governador Valadares !