Ghella in Pole Position for Two Major Subway Lots (Over €2 Billion) in Brazil

Ghella (30%) is part of the consortium named as “preferred bidder” along with Odebrecht (35%) and Álya (35%) for the new Line 19-Celeste in São Paulo

A total estimated value exceeding €2 billion. That’s the scale of the project underway in São Paulo, Brazil, where the Via Celeste consortium – composed of Italy’s Ghella (30%) and Brazil’s Odebrecht (35%) and Álya (35%) – has been designated as the “preferred bidder” for two of the three lots of the future Line 19-Celeste of the city’s metro system.

The “preferred bidder” designation does not yet mean the contract has been awarded, but it does indicate the best offer has been selected based on preliminary evaluations. The tender saw participation from 15 companies, with five proposals submitted for each of the three lots. The bids, opened electronically on September 24, are now under review by São Paulo’s metro authority (Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo), which will also assess the technical and financial eligibility of the participants before officially announcing the winning consortia – a step expected within three months.

Details of the Lots

The two lots for which the consortium led by the Roman firm is currently in pole position – Lots 2 and 3 – are valued at approximately €1 billion and €1.1 billion respectively. Each includes 5.8 kilometers of tunnel and five stations, covering both executive design and construction.

• Lot 2 will traverse the northern part of the city from Jardim Julieta to Vila Maria, and will include a maintenance depot for the trains.
• Lot 3 will pass through the heart of São Paulo, covering key areas like São Bento and Anhangabaú, which will need to be upgraded to integrate with existing metro lines.

The contract will span 75 months (six years and three months) starting from the signing date, which is expected in early 2026. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 and conclude by 2033. The project will also include the installation of auxiliary systems such as escalators, elevators, ventilation, lighting, and safety infrastructure essential for the operation of the new stations.

Strategic Importance of Line 19-Celeste

The future Line 19-Celeste will stretch 17.6 kilometers with 15 stations, and is expected to handle 630,000 passengers per day. It will become the first direct metro connection between Guarulhos – the second most populous city in the state – and central São Paulo. The new line is projected to save commuters around one hour of travel time and generate an estimated 28,000 direct and indirect jobs, along with an annual reduction of 131,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the state government of São Paulo.

Ghella’s Experience in Brazil

Ghella is already working on the extension of São Paulo’s Line 2-Green, a €640 million project involving six kilometers of tunnels and three stations.

Article from Il Sole 24 Ore, NT + Enti Locali & Edilizia - Mauro Salerno 

Photos of the extension of São Paulo’s Line 2-Green