site.btaNorthern Bulgarian Cities Protest Increase of Price of Vignette Stickers

Northern Bulgarian Cities Protest Increase of Price of  Vignette Stickers

Shoumen, Northern Bulgaria, December 5 (BTA) - Protests were held in the northern towns of Dobrich, Rousse, Shoumen and Vidin, and in the central Bulgarian town of Sliven on Saturday against an increase of the price of vignette stickers for vehicles as of the start of next year.

Government has decided to increase the price of the annual vignette sticker for automobiles to 97 leva from the present 67 leva.

At most places the protests caused traffic delays or blocks. Traffic at an intersection on Hemus Motorway was also briefly blocked. Drivers of trucks which were held up by the protests, told BTA that they support the protesters and expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of roads in Bulgaria.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev said earlier this week that the increase of the vignette stickers' price will lead to an annual revenue of around 300 million leva, which will allow the construction of new roads and the maintenance of old ones. The current annual revenue from vignette stickers stands at around 224 million leva, which are insufficient for maintaining the roads in Bulgaria, he said.