Over 3,000 violators are being recorded by the municipality's cameras every day after the ban on the entry of old and non-ecological cars into the center of Sofia. The measure has been in effect since December 1 and applies to the 1st and 2nd eco-categories. The sending of tickets by mail has already begun, with the fine being 50 leva. For The outflow of cars is already being felt in the center of the capital. From January 1, 2025, solid fuel heating will also be prohibited in 9 metropolitan districts.
This Friday, air quality sensors in Sofia also showed 2-3 times the norm. Warnings have also appeared that the air is dangerous. In an attempt to control the problem, the municipality is implementing a package of measures. Among them is the introduction of low-emission zones. In the capital, it covers the ideal center, and the ban will be in effect until the end of February.
"It's not such a madhouse anymore inside the center and everyone walks around, after all", says a citizen.
"That's how it should be. The air should be very clean and not polluted, and it is very important that technical inspections are done properly and that emissions are checked well", explained another resident of the city.
Low-emission zones reduce the concentration of the three main air pollutants - fine dust particles, nitrogen dioxide and ozone.
"The eco-category is what every car gets when it passes the GTP and this is based on the gases it emits, that is, it is important for us to know what the eco-category itself is", explained the deputy mayor of the “Green System, Ecology and Land Use“ Nadezhda Bobcheva.
You can check what category your car is at WWW.RTA.GOVERNMETN.BG/CHEK . It is important to know that the border boulevards are not part of the zone and driving on them is allowed.
The ban does not apply to people who live in the center and have a vignette for a blue or green zone.
The municipality expects violators to fall below 3,000 after they receive their first fines in the mail. The low-emission small ring will become larger in 2028, when its territory will increase, and eco-category 3 will be added to the ban. The goal is for people to give up their old polluting cars themselves. And from old wood and coal stoves. A new ban on domestic heating comes into effect from January 1st in 9 Sofia districts.
"Our request is for everyone who is affected to register on the municipality's website or call us so that we can replace their appliances - it's completely free of charge", added Nadezhda Bobcheva.
The ban on solid fuel heating is planned to cover the entire Sofia municipality in 2029.