Started in February this year, the discussion on the creation of the Interfederal Consortium of the Metropolitan Region of the Surrounding Federal District (CIRME) opened a new chapter. In fact, a disagreement between the Union and the governments of the DF and Goiás is blocking the progress of the process, which has been at a standstill since September, the date of the signing of the protocol of intentions.
The aim of the consortium is to manage public transport in the DF and its surroundings in an integrated manner, in order to reduce operational costs and secure ticket prices for the end consumer.
The Undersecretary for Cities and Transport Policies of Goiás, Miguel Angelo Pricinote, explained to the Metropolises the current situation. “The ANTT (National Land Transport Agency) said that it could not participate in the consortium, so we (DF and Goiás) wrote the protocol of intentions, but before signing we sent it to the agency to evaluate the consortium and if, by doing so, they would transfer the delegation of the service to the consortium,” he commented.
According to Pricinote, the ANTT was against the proposal. “They said that if DF and Goiás wanted to resume transportation of the Entorno, they should be responsible for all the responsibilities (or obligations) of the concession contracts,” he said. This means that
“We understand that, since the Union did not want to participate, from the moment the consortium was formed, it would be our responsibility and the past would be the responsibility of the ANTT,” added the undersecretary.
Read also
-
Federal District
DF and surrounding highways rise without blocking truck drivers
-
Surroundings
Illegal mining: man arrested with half a ton of crystal in Entorno
-
To Mira
The man who threatened his ex is arrested in Entorno: “I will kill him if he denounces me”
“For this reason, we are in the process of redoing the protocol of intentions. It has already passed through our floor, with provisions and arguments which invalidate this thesis of the ANTT. It has also passed through the DF and the idea is that we can sign it, between the end of this year and the beginning of January”, assessed the leader.
According to him, the refusal of the ANTT and the obstacle that the agency would have placed on the initial proposal to constitute the consortium, set back the work. “It’s about redoing studies and legal opinions, remaining in compliance and not generating any liability for the two States,” he stressed.
THE Metropolises contacted ANTT, but there was no response. The space remains open for possible events.
Validation
The Extraordinary Secretary of the Environment (SEENT), Cristian Viana, highlighted how governments have worked in this new scenario. “We relaunched the negotiations to advance the consortium only with the two states. In the working group we created the text of the protocol of intentions. It was sent to the Government of Goiás for validation and, then, the invoices were sent to the CLDF and ALEGO, to authorize the creation of the consortium”, he explained.
Viana commented on the expectations that CIRME could finally start. “The consortium will allow us to create this mobility governance environment, respecting the skills and autonomy of each entity involved and offering the population a service with the quality they deserve,” he guaranteed.
“In the dark”
While negotiations are still ongoing, the population and entrepreneurs who use public transport between the DF and its surroundings are experiencing moments of uncertainty. The executive secretary of the National Association of Passenger Road Transport Companies (Anatrip), Gabriel Oliveira, told the press that the entity was closely following the progress of the consortium’s work.
“We contacted the DF Mobility Secretariat and the Government of Goiás, but we received no response. The work has stopped and they are not able to give their opinion. We are practically in the dark”, he stressed.
According to Oliveira, the problem is that, with the consortium at a standstill, transportation costs continue to rise. “The operating cost of building a line as large as Entorno is very high. The value of diesel is constantly increasing and companies respect labor agreements, that is, Entorno employees had a salary increase this year,” he explained.
As a result, according to the manager, the cost increases and companies have to resort to other sources to cover it. “And where do companies get it from? They will get it from a fleet renewal that could be carried out or from a new line that could be inserted. This unfortunately creates a demolition of the system,” he lamented.
However, Oliveira said he had good expectations from the consortium. “Initially, we want the increase in fares to no longer be passed on to the passenger. This is our first expectation. Especially since with the high price of tickets, the number of users is decreasing every day,” he warned. “Then Anatrip will carry out this joint work with the executive powers, both state and federal, so that the rates gradually decrease,” he said.
About The Author
