Paraná state capital Curitiba is planning to launch a tender in February for a 35-year concession to build and operate Curitiba's new metro through a Public private partnership contract.

The project has an estimated investment of  R$4.56 billion (US$1.93 billion).

A local government release said that the city will open up a consultancy period for the public-private partnership on January 9.  Interested parties will have 30 days to make comments or suggestions. A public hearing  is also scheduled on January 15.

The release stated that the Government intend to sign a contract by the end of the first half of the year.

In October 2013, Triunfo Participações e Investimentos submitted the best Feasibility Studies in response to the Request for Expression of Interest (PMI) to structure a Public private partnership project for Curitiba underground.

The studies presented by Triunfo Participações e Investimentos will be used in 87%.

In 2012, the city of Curitiba had already carried out a public consultation for the project but different problems made impossible the celebration of the tender process. In this context, a new PMI was called to re-structure the project in 2013.

The blue line metro will span 17.6km with 14 stations. The investment will be split as follows:

• R$1.8 billion from the federal budget
• R$1.4 billion through a 30-year loan with a five-year grace period and subsidized interest.
• R$1.36 billion from the private sector.