Santos-Guarujá Tunnel: Billion-dollar project will have a strong social impact.

247 - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed, this Thursday (27), the notice that initiates the works of the submerged tunnel that will link Santos and Guarujá, on the coast of São Paulo. The project, awaited for decades, will not only enable a new connection between the cities, but will also bring solutions to historical social problems. Among them, the regularization of a billion-dollar debt of the Portus pension fund and the removal of the stilt houses in the region, providing decent housing for thousands of families.

The event was attended by the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas, the vice-president Geraldo Alckmin, and ministers of the federal government. During his speech, Lula emphasized the importance of cooperation between the federal and state governments to improve living conditions in the Baixada Santista region.

"When you have political will, you can make things happen. Tarcísio and I are going to work out a 'well-thought-out' agreement between the São Paulo government, the Presidency of the Republic, his Housing Secretariat, and the Minister of Cities, so that we can put an end to the stilt houses once and for all, which is the most degrading way for a human being to live," stated Lula. Tarcísio de Freitas reinforced the commitment to resettle families living in vulnerable situations in the region, citing the implementation of the Stilt Houses Park and other housing initiatives. "We will bring the mayors together, provide housing, and give dignity to these people," declared the governor.

Portus fund's billion-dollar debt resolved.

Another achievement announced at the event was the resolution of a pending issue that had lasted for more than a decade: the redemption of the debt of the defunct Portus fund, which affects 8,5 families of port workers. The Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messias, highlighted the importance of the agreement: "This tunnel connects the future to the past," he said, when announcing the payment of approximately R$ 2,149 billion to the beneficiaries.

Portus, created to guarantee retirement benefits for port workers, was placed under intervention in 2011, compromising payments and leading to the suspension of adjustments. The new agreement, negotiated between the Union, unions, and associations representing the category, stipulates that the amounts will be paid over five years, guaranteeing adjustments of up to 20% in retirement and pension benefits.

The Minister of Social Security, Carlos Lupi, celebrated the resolution of the issue. "We are solving a long-standing problem that has caused distress to families. The Portus workers are regaining the dignity and pride that are rightfully theirs," he stated.

A project that transcends infrastructure.

The Santos-Guarujá tunnel, spanning 1,5 kilometers with 870 meters submerged, is one of the main infrastructure projects planned under the New PAC (Growth Acceleration Program). The project promises to drastically reduce travel time between the cities and boost the regional economy.

However, beyond the impact on traffic, the project stands out for its social reach. The commitment made between the federal and state governments to resettle the families from the stilt houses of Dique da Vila Gilda, the largest shantytown built over water in Brazil, represents a milestone in the fight for decent housing and urbanization in the Baixada Santista region.

The project also symbolizes the closing of a cycle for former Portus contributors, who, after years of uncertainty, will finally receive the benefits they are due. In a region where historical social and economic challenges accumulate, the tunnel emerges not only as a mobility solution, but as a significant step towards reducing inequality.