Petrópolis municipal intervention in Turp Transporte

The municipal government of Petrópolis has escalated its oversight of the transport operator Turp Transporte by decreeing a total intervention in its management. This follows four months of partial intervention triggered by operational and financial instability, including a bus strike and failures to prioritize payroll and essential expenses.

The expansion of municipal authority has coincided with a severe transport crisis. The fleet has been reduced following the judicial removal of 32 buses due to failed inspections. Local entities, including UNITA and Movimento Petrópolis 2030, have warned that the reduction in service is causing overcrowding and harming the local economy by hindering the movement of workers and consumers. UNITA specifically noted that the suspension or absorption of lines such as 670, 672, 719, and 70 transfers passenger demand to a smaller fleet of trunk lines.

In response to the ongoing instability, the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) has criticized administrative delays regarding the bidding process for transport lines and has initiated legal actions against Turp, including a request to terminate the company’s concession contract.

To address logistical constraints, the Petrópolis City Hall has issued a decree for the administrative requisition of a former Turp bus garage in Itaipava. This measure follows the company’s eviction from its previous site due to contract expiration and unpaid rent. Authorities stated that Turp’s current location in Corrêas lacks sufficient infrastructure, capable of servicing only two buses at a time, whereas the Itaipava garage can maintain over 15 vehicles. The requisition will remain in effect until the municipal intervention is concluded, with Turp required to pay monthly compensation based on market prices.