Santos-Guarujá Submerged Tunnel Funding Committee Formed

The Port Authority of Santos (APS) and the São Paulo state government signed an agreement establishing a permanent Technical Governance Committee to oversee the disbursement of the federal R$ 2.6 billion contribution for the Santos‑Guarujá submerged tunnel project. The committee will monitor the physical and financial progress of the works, manage risks, and ensure compliance with the Tribunal de Contas da União’s requirements. Funds will remain in an escrow account under federal ownership until technical reports and approvals are issued, after which transfers to the state will occur proportionally to project milestones. Membership includes representatives from APS, the state’s Secretariat of Partnerships in Investments, the State Transport Services Agency (Artesp), with possible participation from the National Agency for Waterway Transport and the Ministry of Ports and Airports. The tunnel, part of a R$ 7 billion infrastructure plan, will link Santos and Guarujá, replace ferry services, and serve roughly 720,000 residents of the Baixada Santista region.