Mato Grosso BRT project faces cost overruns and transparency concerns

Senator Wellington Fagundes (PL-MT) urged the Mato Grosso government to provide full transparency on the fast‑bus (BRT) system planned for the Cuiabá‑Várzea Grande metro area. In a plenary speech on 10 March, he highlighted repeated delays, rising costs and unclear procurement procedures, questioning whether companies already operating metropolitan transport could be hired without open bidding. He stressed that the public‑funded service will serve millions of passengers and demanded clear explanations of contract criteria.

The state government has so far paid R$ 206 million for BRT works, part of a total R$ 533 million contracted for infrastructure, stations and terminals. A previous R$ 468 million contract was terminated after incomplete work, with R$ 130 million already paid. Subsequent contracts cover remaining infrastructure (R$ 155 million, R$ 76 million paid), stations (R$ 120 million, no payments yet) and terminals (R$ 128 million, not started). Revenue from the sale of VLT wagons and equipment has reached R$ 915 million, giving the state a surplus of roughly R$ 400 million, according to Secretary Marcelo de Oliveira.