Viação Santa Cruz, a major bus transportation company in Southern Minas, has received approval from the National Land Transportation Agency (ANTT) to cancel four interstate bus routes connecting cities in São Paulo to those in Minas Gerais. This decision has been officially published in the Diário Oficial da União and will take effect starting March 1st. The cancellations affect important routes, including those between Ribeirão Preto and Juiz de Fora, Santos and Três Corações, and Campinas and Juiz de Fora, along with another route from São Sebastião do Paraíso to Campinas.

The ANTT has formalized the resignation of three Terms of Authorization for Regular Services (TARs), which are essential documents allowing the operation of these interstate lines. As a result of this decision, the affected routes will cease operations, thereby impacting the mobility options available to passengers traveling between these regions. The agency has also revoked previous resolutions from October 2024 that were related to the same authorizations, reflecting an ongoing reassessment of transportation services.

This cancellation highlights the dynamic nature of the bus transportation sector in Brazil, amidst changing passenger demands and regulatory frameworks. The decision could lead to increased travel challenges for people relying on these bus lines for intercity commutes, and it may have economic implications for the areas affected, such as decreased accessibility and potential impacts on local businesses that depend on passenger traffic. The situation underscores the need for continual evaluation of transportation services in response to the evolving needs of commuters in Southern Minas and neighboring regions.