Expected for almost 100 years, the immersed tunnel will connect the two cities beneath the navigation channel (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT) (Vanessa Rodrigues/AT) The Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) unanimously decided to waive the prior analysis of the construction of the Santos-Guarujá immersed tunnel, giving the green light for the State Government to continue the entire process. The Report has learned that Governor Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicanos) personally got involved in the negotiations with the TCU ministers to secure this decision in the desired form. The Planalto Palace also assisted in facilitating this understanding to enable the launch of the bidding notice. The process’s rapporteur at the TCU, Minister Bruno Dantas, stated that the project is state-level, with no obligations that would require analysis. Meanwhile, the President of the Court, Minister Vital do Rêgo, explained that the exemption allows the process to be expedited by up to one year. Despite the waiver of prior analysis, the TCU will maintain external oversight of the application of federal public resources in the project. Project The immersed tunnel has an estimated investment of R\$ 6 billion, to be equally shared between the Federal Government and the State. The auction is scheduled for August 1st, and the concession will follow the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The company or consortium that wins the bid will sign a contract for construction, maintenance, management, and operation for a period of 30 years. It will be the first immersed tunnel in the country and the largest in Latin America, with a length of 1.5 kilometers – 870 meters of which will be immersed.