Governor Cláudio Castro announced the cancellation of a scheduled metro fare increase in Rio de Janeiro, maintaining the current fare of R$ 7.90 until the end of the year with public funding.
Governor Cláudio Castro of Rio de Janeiro announced that he will cancel a planned fare increase for the metro, which was expected to raise the fare from R$ 7.90 to R$ 8.20 on April 12. This decision comes shortly after the metro operator, MetrôRio, disclosed the increase, which would have represented a 3.8% hike in transportation costs for commuters.
To accommodate the freeze on the fare, the governor revealed that R$ 37 million in public funds will be allocated to maintain the metro fare at R$ 7.90 for the remainder of the year. The social fare for disadvantaged groups will also be renewed at R$ 5, ensuring accessibility for lower-income residents. Castro's decision reflects ongoing concerns about the cost of living and the economic impact on residents of Rio during these challenging times.
MetrôRio responded by stating that contractually, fares are adjusted annually based on the IPCA inflation index. Although Rio's metro fares are among the highest in the country, the company claimed that the 'regulatory fare' necessary for sustainable operations is the lowest in Brazil. This situation highlights the financial difficulties faced by public transportation operators while balancing affordability for users.
