Paraná seeks Rodonorte tollroad contract rescission

Brazil's Paraná state highway department (DER) has started an administrative process to rescind Rodonorte tollroad's concession contract, the state government reported. The state argues 173 "irregularities" were found along the highway's 568km following DER inspections and a report by the state's comptroller general. "The DER, following its contractual obligations, notified the concessionaire various times about the problems," according to department director general Rogério Tizzot. A Rodonorte official told BNamericas that as the concessionaire had yet to receive official notification of the news from the state government, they could not comment on the issue. Since taking over January 1, 2003, governor Roberto Requiao has been at odds with the state's highway concessionaires over tolls, works and "irregularities" in the contracts signed under previous state government administrations. Highway concessionaire holding Companhia de Concessoes Rodoviarias controls Rodonorte after winning its 24-year contract in 1997.