Curitiba Mayor Launches Brazil’s Largest Public‑Transport Concession Tender

Mayor Eduardo Pimentel of Curitiba announced on 30 June the public call for the city’s biggest transport concession ever. The 15‑year contract will be split into five lots – two dedicated BRT corridors and three regional zones – and is expected to attract investment of R$ 3.9 billion.

The plan calls for modernising the network of 309 lines, 22 terminals and 330 tube stations, expanding the fleet from 1,189 to 1,234 buses and adding 250 electric vehicles plus 149 Euro 6 diesel buses in the first phase. New charging stations will be built at two terminals, and 16 tube stations will be constructed or upgraded along with five new routes. The concession includes a novel guarantee fund and quality‑performance indicators, with the winning bidder selected on the basis of the highest discount to the reference remuneration. No fare increase is foreseen during the two‑year transition.

The initiative, prepared with the support of BNDES and the state audit court, aims to make Curitiba the first Brazilian city to base a concession on a full energy‑transition agenda, targeting a zero‑emission bus fleet and improved service quality.