Rio, December 12, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Jorge Rebelo, in charge of Urban Transportation for Projects in Brazil of the World Bank (IBRD), said today, in this capital, that the first underground metro financed by the World Bank anywhere in the world is São Paulo's Line 4, for which the public notice calling for bids will be issued in the next few days.

In the case of Rio de Janeiro, the IBRD representative said that the institution's priority is to conclude the Program for State Transport Administration. "The Superway lines will act as a surface metro. If this project goes well, it is possible that the Bank will consider other loans." This declaration was made during the XVI General Assembly of the Latin American Association of Metros and Subways (Alamys). (DAS)