There’s an investment deficiency when it comes to transportation infrastructure in the country. Specialists point to private initiative as a way out. Where are the impediments?

Leonardo Vianna: The partnership between the government and the private sector is a great option to enable investments, especially considering the public sector’s lack of resources. Plus, everybody agrees on Brazil’s need to guarantee economic and regulatory mark stability. In this context, legal insecurity in concession contracts is a major risk when it comes to scare investors and compromise the joining of new players. The country has grown a lot in that field, but still has to move forward if it wants to, in fact, transform its infrastructure in the next ten years.

Are infrastructure projects in Brazil adequate and attractive to investors?

Leonardo Vianna: With so much to do regarding infrastructure, there are great opportunities and projects capable of attracting investors. The problem is that the government’s abilities to enable them– at all levels – does not meet expectations. Concession auctions must advance, however it’s important that we have a very well structured project. We must also guarantee that the companies participating in the dispute have technical abilities to execute them and can afford the needed investment. After all that, they must make it work. Making sure that we are offering high quality service to users throughout the whole concession period is more important than building the infrastructure itself.

What are the advantages of a project run by an infrastructure operator?

Leonardo Vianna: The perspective for that actor is not just the construction itself, but the whole service operation throughout the contract period. We already have, in Brazil,  contracts where the provider has the goal of building the project as fast as possible. And that happens because the operator will not be paid for the construction, only for the service. So, for that concession, the construction must be high quality, fast and low cost. I think the best example, already operating exactly because of this model of employment, is Salvador’s subway. Their PPP, a full PPP, expected the provider to be responsible for the construction of the infrastructure, but the compensation was paid only when the trains started to transport people.

Leonardo Vianna, President of CCR Group

How does investment on paving help to improve highways and services for the user?

Leonardo Vianna: That’s a very important investment. CCR Group operates and mantains over 3 thousand kilometers of highways and, in more than 20 years of existance, conducted researches and invested in knowledge to guarantee the quality of our highways. In order to achieve that, the group set up CCR Engelog, responsible not only for managing investments in engeneering for every unit in the group, but also for the internalization of paving restoring and sustainable long lasting development projects. That required the creation of an excellence center, located in Santa Isabel (SP). Innovation is part of the business and is also present in other areas of CCR, such as EngelogTec, focused in technology, and Samm, our telecommunications unit.

And how is technology contributing in railway transportation?

Leonardo Vianna: The automation level in that area is very high. With our current investments, there are hundreds of professionals operating trasportation systems on rails throughout the country as we speak, at CCR Metrô Bahia, VLT Carioca, Via Mobilidade or ViaQuatro. There are lots of technology and innovation behind all that, which is key to guarantee comfort and security for every user. ViaQuatro, of Line 4-Yellow, in São Paulo’s subway, has implemented a chart indicating seat availability in every platform monitor, so the user can board the train that has more space. We have also installed timekeepers, displaying how long it takes to the arrival of the next train. The availability chart is unprecedented in subways and has been recognized by the UITP award (International Union of Public Transportation). Another initiative that deserves highlighting is the train simulator, the first of its king developed for a driverless line in the world. The equipment is part of the provider’s permanent investment in innovation and technology and serves as a model to other businesses in the country.