Brazil launches public consultation on priorities for highways, railroads

The Brazilian government has launched a public consultation to establish priority tasks for the highway and railroad sectors during the first 100 days of the new administration under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

"It will be possible to propose actions to increase the competitiveness of infrastructure and cargo and public transport logistics; promote traffic safety; improve the quality of transport infrastructure and services; and other points related to reducing bureaucracy [and improving] sustainability, governance and access to information," the transport ministry stated in a release.

The public consultation will be open until January 16 and suggestions can be made here.

One of the first priorities set by transport minister Renan Filho, who assumed the post on January 1, is to resume halted infrastructure works and draft a plan for the sector that will likely to announced before the end of this month.

Lula, a strong advocate of the State playing a key role in the economy and of greater public investment in infrastructure, has divided the former infrastructure ministry into two: a transport ministry overseeing railways and highways, and a ministry for ports and airports.