The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has approved a R$747 million (US$213.1 million) loan for the Centro-Porto light rail transit (LRT) PPP project in Rio de Janeiro.

The total project investment is estimated at R$1.77 billion (US$505 million). The federal government will provide R$500 million (US$142.6 million) for the project.

The project involves the construction, financing, operation and maintenance for a period of 25 years the new LTR. It includes the development of a 27.5 km system composed of 3 lines and 32 stops that will connect the downtown district to Porto Maravilha.

In June 2013 a consortium composed by Actua - CCR (24,4375%), Invepar (24,4375%), Odebrecht Transportes (24,4375%), Riopar Participações, (partner of Grupo CCR in CCR Barcas) (24,4375%), Benito Roggio Transporte (2%) and RATP do Brasil Operações (0,25%) signed the concession contract.

The new LRT system will have a total of 32 trains with seven cars each. It is expected to  carry up to 250,000 passengers per day, with services operating at headways ranging from 5 to 15 minutes.