site.bta Bus Operators Block Central Sofia Protesting Informal Economy, Toll Taxes

Bus Operators Block Central Sofia Protesting Informal Economy,  Toll Taxes

Sofia, April 26 (BTA) - Bus operators staged a protest in central Sofia, blocking traffic briefly on Tuesday. Some 150 buses took part in the protest, organized by the National Association of Bus Hauliers, carrying signs that read: "Protest: No to the Gray Economy".

Among the bus operators' demands are efficient measures for fighting the gray sector in road transport and scrapping the toll taxes for buses that carry passengers on regular routes. The protestors also want amendments to be made to the Carriage by Road Act and its corresponding regulations.

Commenting Tuesday's protest, Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski said that transit heavy truck traffic is too cheap and train freight services are not profitable. The toll system is the fairest charge and with its introduction a large portion of goods and passengers will switch to the rail transport, added the Minister.