Premier: Bypasses of Large Towns Could Be Exempted from Motorway Tolls (2)

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 of relieving 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. The opposition Christian Democrats (KDH) welcome the decision of the Transport Ministry to exempt selected sections of motorways from the payment of motorway tolls. According to KDH chairman Milan Majersky, they perceived such a request from the people. "Many people, for example, commute daily to work at the opposite ends of cities, but otherwise don't travel across the country. They don't use sections of motorways because of the toll, so they congest traffic in cities and towns, which has equally negative impacts on the environment. I'm therefore very pleased that the people will be able to use sections of motorways free of charge and that this will make their lives easier," said Majersky. am/mcs