Brazilian municipalities block bus cash payment changes and delay new transport subsidy

The municipality of Ribeirão Pires formally rejected a concessionaire's unilateral proposal to suspend cash payments for bus fares. After a 24‑hour deadline to justify the change, the city concluded the arguments were insufficient and ordered the continuation of cash payments, warning of penalties for non‑compliance.

In Rio Branco, Chamber president Joabe Lira confirmed that no proposal has been submitted to the legislature to increase the transport subsidy by R$ 2 million, and therefore no vote is scheduled before the parliamentary recess. The city is preparing for an emergency contract that will transfer bus operations to JTP Transportes within 60 days, introducing around 120 new or nearly‑new buses.