Minas Gerais toll increase debate

In late July 2026 the concessionaire EPR Vias do Café raised tolls for passenger vehicles on highways in southern Minas Gerais from R$15.00 to R$15.80, a 5.3 % increase approved by the state transport regulator Artemig. The adjustment was justified by inflation recovery and was accompanied by a record R$1.1 billion of network investments and a continued frequent‑user discount for electronic TAG users.

A week later, transport‑sector leaders expressed concern that the higher rates could be unfair and raise logistics costs for consumers. Gladstone Lobato, president of the Federation of Companies of Cargo and Logistics Transport of Minas Gerais, warned that excessive tolls exacerbate bottlenecks and discourage drivers, urging private‑sector partnerships to improve road quality and lower overall transport expenses. He also highlighted the role of the Ouro Preto toll plaza in funding road upkeep and preserving the UNESCO World Heritage site, noting the growing use of electronic toll tags to streamline payments.