The Brazilian federal government has announced that the West-East Integration Line (FIOL) will be part of the PAC growth acceleration programme. The programme, consisting of a set of economic policies and investment projects, will be launched in July 2023. FIOL comprises three sections, with the first connecting the cities of Caetité and Ilhéus in Bahia, covering 537 km in length and passing through 19 municipalities. The forecast for completion and start of operations is from 2027. Bahia Mineração won the concession for the first section, with a bid worth €6.2 million (BRL 32.7 million). The concession will run for 35 years and will require investments of €626 million, according to the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT). Of this total, €303 million will be used to complete the works, which are currently at 80% completion.
