site.btaParliament Passes Revisions Related to Implementation of Mixed Road Toll System

Sofia, July 26 (BTA) - Parliament Thursday passed on first reading revisions to the Road Act related to the development and functioning of a mixed e-toll system for the paid road network in this country. The revisions garner 113 votes 'for' of the 183 MPs present, one was against and 69 abstained.

The mixed system provides for tolls on the basis of travelled distance for motor vehicles of maximum 3.5 tonnes (toll system) and on the basis of time for cars weighing up to 3.5 tonnes (e-vignette). The bill provides for specific law regulations of these taxation variants, applicable to the different categories of vehicles, GERB MP Alexander Nenkov and a group of MPs who tabled it stated in their arguments.

The Road Infrastructure Agency is to conclude contracts with traders who wish to engage in collecting the fees for usage of the paid road network. The conditions such traders should meet will be announced in advance and will be valid for all who want to conclude contracts. To perform the functions of management and control of the system, the agency will establish a new structural unit called National Toll Management.

Nenkov explained that the e-vignette should become effective as of January 1, 2019, and the e-toll system for trucks - as of August 2019. Drivers will no longer have to apply vignette stickers. The authorities will check by digital means whether a vignette has been paid or not, Nenkov explained. Vignettes will also be available through a mobile application and their price will not be increased.

Both the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms said they are in favour of the toll system on principle, but that the bill was not clear enough and has no financial valuation. They also demanded that the system should have a favourable effect on municipal roads.

On Wednesday the government increased by 179,996,400 leva the approved maximum commitments for expenditures of the Regional Development Ministry in 2018 due to the contract signed in early 2018 for the implementation of an e-toll system.