O MPF (Federal Public Ministry) want to understand what the flaws are in the regulatory framework on interstate passenger transport and ANTT (National Land Transport Agency).
The regulations were established by the Agency in 2023, through Resolution No. 6,033, and came into force in February 2024. The regulations provided for the progressive opening of markets and the reduction of desert lines.
In practice, however, the increase in companies and the number of new markets in interstate transport have not yet undergone major changes.
As already shown by CNN Brazilas it did not achieve the objective of increasing competition among companies in the segment and serving regions considered to be line deserts.
Survey obtained by CNN Brazil shows that only TRF-1 (Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region) there are 515 lawsuits against ANTT, in actions related to the regulatory framework and requesting market granting.
Last week, the 3CCR/MPF (Consumer and Economic Order Chamber of the Federal Public Ministry) held a public hearing to listen to experts and sector representatives.
The event was also attended by federal deputy Mauricio Marcon (Podemos-RS), which criticized the current model. “There are many cities in Brazil that are underserved, many users who pay much more than they should and many who travel in conditions that they should not travel in”, he stressed.
A CNN Brazil ANTT sought to respond to the criticisms raised at the event, but did not receive a response until the closing of this publication.
While Paulo Henrique Pereira, executive secretary of Senacon (National Consumer Secretariat)an organ linked to the Ministry of Justice and Public Securityexpressed concern about issues related to the limitation of bus operators.
“The criteria for economic viability must be well defined so as not to create unwanted barriers for the entry of new actors and think a little about how to create a regulation that actually allows new operators not to be placed asymmetrically in relation to the standards that are being presented”, declared the secretary.
In turn, André Porto, from Amobitec (Brazilian Mobility and Technology Association) cited that the landmark failed to democratize access to interstate road transport.
“Regulation, instead of opening the market, creates barriers to entry. They close the market to the benefit of companies that are already operating currently”, he criticized.
Still at the hearing, Juliano Samôr, superintendent of road passenger transport services at ANTT, stressed that the Agency has been suffering budget cuts, but that it is open to institutional dialogue with control bodies and other sectors.
Samôr pointed out that the agency is facing a “huge pent-up demand” and a “tensioned regulatory environment”, a situation that could have been avoided by previous administrations.
According to him, the Agency is open to reviewing current regulations to ensure greater competition, legal certainty and the protection of the rights of road transport users.
