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Small Cities of Paraná Are Being Transformed! With R$ 1 billion invested, dirt roads become asphalt avenues, bringing more comfort, safety, and development to thousands of families.
At nearly 80 years old, retiree Nhory Olegini has witnessed the changes in the Southwest of Paraná up close.
Born in Clevelândia, he saw how the infrastructure in the region has evolved. During his youth, the paths were merely dirt trails cut through the woods, making travel difficult.
But this reality has changed drastically.
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Today, he lives in Vitorino, where the streets have been completely paved through the New Asphalt, New Life program, ensuring a better quality of life for residents.
“I grew up in Francisco Beltrão and passed through here since childhood. Everything was dirt road; we traveled by horse-drawn carts. I moved to Vitorino in 1969, and the streets were clay. Now everything is paved; I never believed this would happen”, says Nhory.
Investments Transform Urban Infrastructure
The New Asphalt, New Life program, created by the State Government in partnership with the Legislative Assembly, is changing the reality of small municipalities in Paraná.
In addition to paving, the projects include LED lighting and planting native trees, promoting a sustainable and modern infrastructure.
So far, R$ 1 billion has been released for 242 cities, representing 60% of the municipalities in Paraná.
The program is being executed in phases:
- First Phase: Municipalities with up to 7,000 inhabitants.
- Second Phase: Municipalities with up to 12,000 inhabitants.
- Third Phase: Municipalities between 12,000 and 25,000 inhabitants, with an additional R$ 700 million.
- Fourth Phase: Municipalities between 25,000 and 50,000 inhabitants.
With this expansion, nine out of ten cities in Paraná will have their entire urban area paved, reaching 363 municipalities.
The Impact of the Program in Vitorino
The city of Vitorino, with 9,700 inhabitants, is one of the examples of the initiative’s success. The municipality received R$ 4 million to pave strategic neighborhoods, such as Araucária, Industrial, and Azulão.
Furthermore, streets have been paved where 70 housing units will be built through the New Life program, part of the Easy House Paraná, which aims to build 6,000 homes for families in social vulnerability.
“This investment was made in an industrial area, enhancing logistics and the installation of new companies”, says Mayor Marciano Vottri.
More Quality of Life for Residents
Besides fostering economic development, the program has brought direct benefits to the population. Nhory’s daughter, Sandra Legini, highlights the change in the family’s routine.
“Now that they have paved the asphalt, it’s wonderful. Before, during harvest time, the dust was unbearable. When it rained, everything turned to mud”, says Sandra.
She also mentions an important advancement: accessibility. “My mother is in a wheelchair, and we couldn’t take her out for a walk. Now, with the accessible sidewalks, we can go out comfortably”, she celebrates.
Other Benefited Cities
The transformation has also reached Salgado Filho, where an investment of R$ 5.1 million is paving 22 streets.
“With this initiative, 70% of the streets in the city have already been paved, and the goal is to reach 100%”, emphasizes Mayor Volmar Duarte.
The population helped define the priority streets through a public hearing. “If we depended only on our own resources, we would never be able to carry out this work”, Duarte highlights.
In Flor da Serra do Sul, the investment of R$ 4.8 million has allowed for the paving of almost the entire Tatetos district.
“We are undertaking the largest mobility project in the history of the district. The streets have received sidewalks, LED lighting, and complete accessibility”, states Mayor Valmor Felipe Junior.
The Largest Paving Project in Brazil
The New Asphalt, New Life program is already considered the largest urban paving initiative in Brazil.
In the first phase, aimed at cities of up to 7,000 inhabitants, R$ 567.7 million was invested, benefiting 147 municipalities.
In the second phase, which assisted cities with up to 12,000 inhabitants, the investment reached R$ 271.3 million, benefiting 65 municipalities.
The third phase includes 89 eligible municipalities, of which 23 already have projects underway, with R$ 102.2 million allocated for these works.
The fourth phase, focused on larger cities, will further expand the program’s reach. With all the investments, New Asphalt, New Life could reach R$ 1.6 billion in total funding.
The impact of this initiative is already visible in the streets and in the quality of life of residents, who now benefit from modern, safe, and accessible infrastructure.
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