Nation’s Road will Take Euro 5 Toll on Drivers’ Pockets

TIRANA, December 1

Albanians that are going to use the Nation’s Road will pay a Euro 5 highway toll. The Public Procurement Agency issued the bulletin where the Ministry of Transports requires from Catalyst, the winner company, to accept within seven days the announcement. Therefore, it must agree with the set conditions and execute the concessionary agreement. Thus, the Ministry of Transports and the company must sign an agreement within 65 days. This step will pave the way for charging drivers that will use the highway.
If Catalyst refuses the concession, it will pay a fee of Euro 20,000 within 30 days.
According to experts, the maximum international standard for 100 km of road maintenance requires a toll of Euro 2.5. The Nation’s Road is 116 km long and only half of it was completed. Moreover, experts say that the fee besides being too high, should include the construction of the remained part, the expansion of Milot-Rreshen section and the construction of two bypasses.
On the other hand, drivers pay a circulation tax on petrol, which is Lek 27 per liter. It generates funds that are used for maintenance works. The Albanian state collects Lek 19 billion or about Euro 150 million only from this tax. This amount is considered enough for road maintenance.

News Source: Monitor