TCU suspends R$2.6 billion for the Santos–Guarujá tunnel and demands adjustments to the project

O Union Court of Auditors determined the precautionary suspension of around R$2.6 billion in federal resources allocated to the tunnel project between Santos e Guarujáone of the most anticipated infrastructure projects in the country.

The amount would be contributed by the Union through the Santos Port Authority and represents a relevant portion of the project’s total financing, estimated at approximately R$7 billion.

The court’s decision was motivated by inconsistencies identified in the project’s governance model. Among the main points raised are the absence of clear rules for resource management, lack of a formal legal instrument that regulates the use of public money and risks related to supervision and transparency.

According to the TCU, there are not sufficient guarantees that federal resources will be properly monitored and applied, which motivated the preventive measure.

As a referral, the Santos Port Authority and the Government of the State of São Paulo will have 30 days to present a formal governance agreement. The document must establish control mechanisms, accountability and a detailed financial schedule for the execution of the work.

Despite the suspension, the measure does not, at this time, represent a stoppage of the project. The decision is precautionary in nature and seeks to ensure structural adjustments before the resources are released. Authorities involved state that the work schedule should not be impacted in the short term.

Considered strategic for urban mobility and logistics in Baixada Santista, the project envisages the construction of the first underwater tunnel in Brazil, connecting Santos and Guarujá in around five minutes. Currently, traveling between the two cities can take up to an hour by road or around 18 minutes by ferry.