Premier: Bypasses of Large Towns Could Be Exempted from Motorway Tolls

Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - Bypasses of some towns and cities, including Bratislava, Nitra, Zilina, Poprad [Presov region], Kosice and Presov, could be exempted from motorway tolls, with the aim being to relieve traffic, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said on Friday following a meeting with Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee). "The transport minister will propose to the government to exempt the so-called bypasses of towns and cities from motorway stickers. Some sections, as far as cities and towns are concerned, are already exempted. But I can say that this will concern the entire bypasses of Bratislava, Nitra, Zilina, Poprad, Kosice and Presov," said the premier. The exemption of bypasses from motorway tolls is to apply only to passenger vehicles. Raz announced that this could happen as of September this year. According to the transport minister, the revenue shortfall will be minimal. "After the recalculation, the revenue loss from this is absolutely minimal, because these are exactly the people who wouldn't normally have bought the sticker and don't use the bypass. But if we give them the ring road for free, it will motivate them to drive on the bypass," said Raz, adding that this may be a way to direct traffic to bypasses and make it possible to live greener in the cities. am/mcs