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Lula Signs R$ 10 Billion Concession for BR-381 Highway in Minas Gerais to Benefit 4 Million

Jan 22, 2025, 04:07 PM

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed a concession contract for the BR-381 highway in Minas Gerais, known as the 'rodovia da morte' due to its high accident rate. The contract, signed at the Palácio do Planalto, involves a 30-year concession to the 4UM Investimentos group, which will invest R$ 10 billion in the 303.4 km stretch between Belo Horizonte and Governador Valadares. The project aims to improve safety and infrastructure, including the duplication of 106 km of the highway, the addition of 83 km of extra lanes, and other enhancements. The initiative is expected to benefit 4 million people and create 83,500 jobs. The concession includes a plan for free tolls in the first year, followed by discounts for frequent users. The signing ceremony was marked by political tensions, with Lula and his ministers criticizing the absence of Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema, who did not attend the event.