New budget, new tolls, new vignette prices… How will this affect us… Hristo Radkov, chairman of the Board of the Bulgarian Drivers' Association, spoke to FACTI on the topic.
- Mr. Radkov, this year the government plans to increase the amount of both the tolls that heavy trucks pay per kilometer traveled on the country's toll roads, and the vignettes for passenger cars. How does the transport industry view this?
- Unfortunately, the government, which is still one month old, in my opinion, does not have a clear concept of what and why it wants it. Money for roads is needed - both for current repairs and for capital expenditures, because this is something that has not been done in recent years. But I - as an economist, will tell you that first the good or service is provided, and then comes the payment for it. We currently see only desires to increase revenue, but without a strategy for this and without justification for where and how these funds will be spent. We have said many times that we know how to increase revenue from taxis, but in a way that our economy does not suffer. However, in your opinion, how many times have we been invited to give an opinion on the subject? The question is rhetorical… If even now politicians only look at how to fill the treasury, but without caring about our opinion, because we still provide the money for taxis, they will see us with trucks in the square.
- This change is clear from the draft law on the state budget for 2025 and the accompanying report. Doesn't it somehow seem like there's no money and let's raise tolls and vignettes… About 220 million leva more are planned from the increase?
- When we talk about revenues, it's fair to say that revenues from tolls are increasing every year. Let's hear a justification on the subject from the cabinet. We'd be happy to see that.
- The idea is for the price of the vignette to return to the level before the Covid pandemic – 97 leva. 10 leva is not much, but why…
- The price of the vignette can increase by 10 leva, because realistically speaking, the reduction was a purely populist act of some people who travel more often by plane than by car. But here is the time to ask why we don't also introduce a toll for vehicles up to 3.5 tons?
- Tolls are a big topic, but is it right for the increase to be for all roads…
- When comparing tolls between Bulgaria and neighboring countries, they are the most expensive in Bulgaria. And this is because in our country you also pay for driving on second-class roads – something that is not available anywhere else in the EU.
- In March 2020, the toll system came into operation, which charges vehicles over 3.5 tons at a special rate for using republican roads. What is the effect of this?
- The most modern toll system in the EU. We used to hear that back then, how great it was, how we are like in Europe. That was according to the then management of the Road Infrastructure Agency (API). And what did it turn out to be!? That our system is neither the most modern nor the most advanced and that we currently have to replace the cameras because they cannot be adapted to the new functions that it must perform. This means that nearly 800 cameras must be removed and replaced because they have become obsolete in 5 years. Did our toll cameras become obsolete in 5 years that we are going to replace them? What is this…
- The analysis made for the budget shows that the tolls in our country are about 55% lower for heavy goods vehicles compared to those in Serbia, and compared to Greece, Hungary and Austria they are about three times lower. Is it the cheapest to pass through Bulgaria…
- When comparing tolls between Bulgaria and neighboring countries, it is the most expensive in Bulgaria, but there is an explanation for this. I have already said that second-class roads are also paid for in our country, and this is not the case anywhere else in the EU. The so-called regional transportation in our country is paid for. This is also one of the reasons why retail prices in our country are rising, because transportation costs money. Even if you deliver goods on a second-class road, you pay. That's it.
- And we keep saying that despite the billions of levs collected in recent years from tolls and vignettes, there is no visible improvement in the condition of the road network and roads. Why is that…
- Each of us travels and sees what the condition of our roads is. To see something better, new, etc. Not only is there no improvement, but there is also a deterioration of the road network, for which someone is preparing to ask for more money. Do you think this is normal? In conclusion, I want to say that one of the current deputy prime ministers is the person who indirectly pumped up inflation greatly after he brought second-class roads into the scope of the toll system.