BRATISLAVA, November 3, (WEBNOVINY) — At the beginning of 2012, the number of road stretches where trucks are required to pay toll should be reduced from current 1,600 by approximately half. The government should then save millions of euros in payments to e-toll provider SkyToll for toll transactions. “We plan introducing this measure from January 1st,” Transport Ministry spokesmen Martin Krajcovic told SITA. He also informed that the ministry plans publishing no further information regarding the issue until definite decisions on number of stretches and funds saved are made.
Further changes planned to the e-toll system should affect fees and collection of e-toll on remaining first-category roads and are still unclear with the possibility they might not be implemented at all. According to Association of Hauliers Cesmad Slovakia President Pavol Jancovic, who met Figel recently, the minister plans making no fundamental changes before March 2012 early election except curbing the number of e-toll stretches. Jancovic also said that the state is the only one to benefit from this measure, yet it is important that it would not harm hauliers. They do not oppose this change, yet they do insist on the agreed principle that toll is charged on a vehicle only for a whole stretch it passes.
Hauliers also demand lower fees and taxes on motor vehicles for ecological vehicles. Jancovic objects plans for introducing toll on more roads, arguing that it would not be appropriate due to “not the best road infrastructure” and claiming that the environment for road freight transport business is bad for already a long time. SDKU-DS MP Ondrej Matej is convinced planned changes except for extending toll system to all first class roads should continue. SMER-SD MP Lubomir Vazny, on the other hand, criticizes the ministry for not informing the European Commission on its reform intentions, stating that the EC need four months for approval.
Introducing the e-toll system in early 2010, when Vazny was transport minister, was accompanied by logistic problems and protests. The current ministry claims it’s trying to correct the system mismanaged by previous Cabinet. Thanks to negotiations with e-toll operator SkyToll the state will directly save 10 million euros and curb its planned costs for 2012 and 2013 by 80 million euros. The Transport Ministry also pushed through reduction of extremely high toll fines, informed spokesman Krajcovic.
SITA