The União Court of Accounts (TCU) has demanded that the São Paulo government clarify the circumstances surrounding the signing of a public-private partnership (PPP) contract for the construction of the immersed Santos-Guarujá tunnel. This contract, signed in January, raised concerns as it was done without the participation of the Port Authority of Santos (APS), which claims it was not informed about the contract's terms. The APS is responsible for providing half of the R$ 5.1 billion budget needed for this major infrastructure project, and the lack of information about the contract has put it in a difficult operational and legal position.

Minister Bruno Dantas, the rapporteur on this issue at the TCU, highlighted the APS's claims of facing "operational and legal difficulties" regarding its financial contribution to the PPP. The Port Authority contends that without formal knowledge of the contract, it cannot fulfill its financial obligations, which could jeopardize both the project and the Port Authority’s role in it. This situation raises questions about the transparency and governance of public-private partnerships in Brazil, particularly when significant stakeholders like the APS are left out of critical contractual agreements.

The decision by the TCU, which mandates a five-day deadline for the State Partnerships Secretariat to provide a response, indicates the court's concern over the procedural integrity of this infrastructure project and its potential implications on broader public accountability. As the construction of the Santos-Guarujá tunnel progresses, ensuring all relevant parties are adequately informed and involved becomes crucial for the project's success and for maintaining public trust in governmental oversight processes.