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The Santos/Guarujá Submerged Tunnel Is Causing Concern. With About 60 Expropriated Properties, Residents Question Offered Values and Demand Justice.
The residents of Santos are on edge.
An ambitious megaproject that envisions the construction of a submerged tunnel between Santos and Guarujá is stirring up the community.
But the real concern is not the grandeur of the work, but the cost it will bring to local inhabitants.
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At least 60 properties are expected to be expropriated, according to official numbers, and the impact is already beginning to worry affected families.
According to information from the Diário do Litoral newspaper, the public hearing that took place on Wednesday, the 9th, organized by the State Department of Partnerships in Investment, generated a lot of discussion.
With the Guarany Theater full, representatives of the Macuco Community Association (Acom) expressed their indignation.
Raquel França, director of the São Paulo Partnerships Company, stated that the expropriation process is inevitable, but seeks to guarantee fair values for residents.
Expropriations and Uncertainties: A Pain for Residents
As detailed by Raquel, the 60 properties that are to be expropriated include residences, parking lots, and commercial establishments.
However, the number of properties in question is a subject of contestation.
According to José Santaella Redorat Júnior, secretary of Acom, the actual number of expropriations would be double, totaling 124 properties.
This calculation takes into account all constructions in the area, regardless of their purpose.
Meanwhile, Fabiana Rodrigues Graça Rufo Paiva, a resident of the Macuco neighborhood, openly criticized the compensation offered, claiming that the proposed values are insufficient to acquire new properties in Santos.
Acom reported that the government is offering about R$ 2,390 per square meter, which Fabiana considers “clearly inadequate” for the local reality, where prices are well above that amount.
Tension and Suggestions for Financial Compensation for Families
The community’s unrest is not limited to disagreement over the offered values.
Flávio Saraiva, a representative of the Santos Public Servants Union, suggested that the government subsidize the affected families.
For him, the subsidy of R$ 290 million per year to the contractor that will operate the tunnel should extend to families who will lose their homes.
The idea is to ensure that residents can acquire new homes, preserving their standard of living in the neighborhood.
Saraiva emphasized that this project, while important for regional infrastructure, cannot be implemented at the expense of the citizens of Macuco.
Forced expropriation is a blow to many who have called the neighborhood home for generations, and he hopes the state government will demonstrate sensitivity and handle the case justly.
How Will the Tunnel Impact the Community of Santos?
The expectation is that the tunnel will improve traffic flow between Santos and Guarujá, offering an alternative to the congested ferry service.
But for the families in Macuco, the human and social cost is too high to ignore.
The local population will continue to press for justice, seeking that the proposed values for expropriation be reviewed.
And in the meantime, the project continues to generate intense debates among the government, the contractor, and the residents directly affected.
Future Perspective and The Government Response
The construction of the tunnel represents an important improvement for the region, but the lack of consensus on the expropriations could delay or even complicate the project.
The government promises to evaluate each case and ensure that the expropriations are fair, but will that be enough to calm the residents’ nerves?
Do you believe the government will be able to find a balance between progress and the rights of the residents of Santos?
Acho que uma ponte seria o ideal
Corajoso o cara q vai fazer o túnel kkkk
Pimenta no barico dos outros é refresco, tem que acionar a justiça e pagar 1 preço bem acima de mercado ou deixem os moradores em paz. Sic…