Belém Bus Lines Rerouted After Monte Cristo License Revoked

Five bus lines in Belém, Brazil, have been affected by the revocation of the Auto Viação Monte Cristo license. Three of these routes have been reassigned to different bus companies, while the remaining two are awaiting a decision from the Belém Secretariat of Security, Public Order, and Mobility (Segbel). This operational change comes as over 100 former Monte Cristo employees have not yet received their overdue salaries, benefits, or severance pay. The affected lines are CDP–Providência, now operated by Nova Marambaia; Pedreira–Nazaré, taken over by Arsenal; and Pedreira–Lomas A, managed by Santa Rosa. The Sacramenta–São Brás and Alcindo Cacela–José Malcher routes are still awaiting new operators. Segbel is actively negotiating to find companies for the two outstanding routes and is monitoring the performance of the companies that have taken over the reassigned lines. To mitigate passenger disruption during this transition, Segbel has also arranged for fleet reinforcements with companies operating similar routes. Meanwhile, former Monte Cristo employees, including drivers like Sames Santos, are struggling financially, with some having gone months without pay even before the license revocation. Santos described resorting to informal work to support his family. The union representing transport workers, Sintrebel, plans to file a collective lawsuit to recover the owed wages and benefits. Although approximately 40 former Monte Cristo drivers and conductors have been hired by the companies now operating the routes, and Segbel has requested priority hiring, many ex-employees remain unpaid and are seeking a resolution. Monte Cristo, founded in 1969, was one of Belém's oldest bus companies, and its closure follows a period of protests and strikes by its staff over unpaid wages.