BNDES to Advance Studies on Rio Metro Lines 2, 3, and 4 Expansions

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 25, the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) and the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly advance the planning of urban mobility projects in the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area based on the Brazilian National Urban Mobility Study (ENMU), including the expansion of Metro and suburban rail Lines 2, 3, and 4. Under the memorandum, BNDES will be responsible for the structuring work of the relevant line expansion projects and will separately carry out preliminary studies for their inclusion in Brazil's new "Accelerated Growth Program" (Novo PAC).

Line 2 is planned to be extended further from Estácio to Praça XV, while the possibility of extending it further from the existing Pavuna terminus toward Baixada Fluminense will also be studied. Line 3 is planned to connect Praça XV, Niterói, and Guaxindiba in São Gonçalo, with provisions reserved for future extension to Itaboraí. Line 4 is planned to be extended westward from Jardim Oceânico to Recreio dos Bandeirantes, passing through Alvorada.

Among these, the Line 3 study will be advanced by BNDES in cooperation with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), drawing on the technical, operational, and urban development diagnostic results already completed by the university's Coppe engineering research institute. The memorandum also includes metropolitan area transport governance and fare integration within its scope of work, with the Rio Metrópole Institute participating in the relevant coordination.

BNDES stated that the above projects had previously been included in ENMU, and that the initial structuring work for the projects will begin after the signing of this memorandum. ENMU currently covers 21 metropolitan areas in Brazil, having identified a total of 187 urban mobility projects involving metro, BRT, suburban rail, and light rail, with a total line length of more than 3,000 kilometers.