[ad_1]
In Bulgaria, one thing is often said, but another is done. This is what happened with the toll system, which according to the government would introduce the right principle: the one that pollutes and the one that destroys the roads to pay more. Yet the first-year balance shows that car owners have paid twice as much as truck and truck owners, and the billions Boyko Borissov expects is a mirage.
The reason for this is the resignation of the prime minister to carriers and the Covid pandemic, it was clear in the response of the regional minister Petya Avramova to a question from the BSP deputies.
Furthermore, “toll: a printing press for money”, as Borisov called it some time ago, does not even cover the investments of BGN 180 million for the construction of the system.
To top it off, the road agency is about to sign a new 5-year contract with the Austrian company Kapsch for another 141 million BGN. The reason is that the National Toll Authority does not have the capacity to manage the toll system, although according to the documents there are about 900 employees. .
Twice less toll revenue than vignettes
From January to December, two and a half times more revenue was collected from electronic vignettes than from toll fees, according to data released by Avramova.
The income from vignettes amounts to BGN 258.3 million, and from tol taxi – 103.3 million BGN for the period from January 1 to December 8, 2020. By the end of the year, the revenues from the vignettes are expected to reach 129 million BGNPetya Avramova said.
The revenue from tolls established in the 2020 Budget was 450 million BGN, Which means that the default will be more than three times.
At the moment, it is not even clear if the results of last year can be achieved, when the income from electronic bullets exceeded BGN 392 million As of December 8, revenues from vignettes and tolls total BGN 361.6 million
According to Mediapool sources, former Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov warned the prime minister that his generosity towards those unwilling to pay tolls would eventually lead to the fact that instead of receiving billions in revenue, the state would have to pay more for maintain a “single” system. The Bulgarian specialists are still unable to work.
Another paradox is that initially, under a contract, the toll system had to be owned by the Bulgarian state; in this case, the key to access it should be in the RIA. In fact, it turned out that this will happen only after 5 years and a new BGN 141 million in addition to the BGN 180 million already delivered, it was clear from Avramova’s explanations.
The toll rates were introduced on March 1, 2020, after several delays under pressure from operators and a practical monopoly on the supply of GPS trackers and on-board devices. The other option for toll rates is the purchase of route maps.
Avramova data shows that more revenue was generated through domestic service providers. Initially, there was only one provider and he worked with Kapsh, but now there are two. They are purchased before December 8. road maps for over BGN 43.2 million., sold by RIA, and the toll declarations submitted by service providers (private companies) exceed 261.8 million for more than BGN 60 million, Avramova announced.
The regional minister did not provide information on how much of the amounts collected by service providers were transferred to the highway agency, neither for this nor for last year. According to unofficial information, private companies are delaying payments to RIA.
The reasons for the fiasco
Minister Avramova justified the failure to meet the objectives set with the discounts that the cabinet and personally Prime Minister Boyko Borissov made for carriers.
The original version provided for the coverage of tolls 10800 km national road network. Carrier dissatisfaction occurred and the scope was shortened to 6050 km for highways, first and second class roads. But even this turned out to be insufficient for the carriers, who after a meeting with Prime Minister Borissov achieved a rank of barely 3115 km only for first-class highways and roads a plus reduction of the rates initially announced.
Before Borissov, the carriers claimed that their rate proposal would meet budget. It was agreed that after three months of operation of the toll system, there will be a new meeting and, if necessary, the rates will be updated.
But the wine COVID-19 and no update
The promise was made in early 2020, but three months later the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and the country was closed for two months (from March 13 to May 13).
Thus, the grace period for the introduction of the toll system in commercial operation coincided with the first quarantine and there was no way to make an objective analysis to assess the need to increase the rates and the scope of the toll system, Avramova explained. He pointed out that this factor is unprecedented worldwide and undoubtedly affects the intensity of crossings on the vehicle toll road network.
When the toll was introduced, the expected revenue forecast was BGN 1 million – BGN 1.5 million per day, or around BGN 30 million per month. In a pandemic, however, the average income is 10.5 million BGN per month, and for only three months after the end of the state of emergency (June, July and August) the average monthly income increased to 11.9 million BGNAvramova noted.
He promised to address a change in the scope of the highway network with the gradual inclusion of more stretches of roads that are intensively used by heavy traffic. This is the policy in other European countries as well. All roads in Switzerland and Belgium have been charged, and Germany has dramatically expanded the range of toll roads from 15,000 km of motorways and federal highways to a total of 40,000 km in recent years.
The fee for fees, with objective analysis, will also be considered and discussed, Avramova added.
Another 141 million BGN for Kapsh
The toll system was carried out by the Kapsh Traffic Solutions consortium for BGN 180 million and is operated together with the Road Infrastructure Agency.
Avramova also noted the “uniqueness” of the developed toll system, which has no other in the world. The first unique feature is that supports two different electronic toll collection methods at the same time. One is based on time (electronic vignette) and the other on distance traveled (truck toll), which are generally introduced, maintained and operated as independent systems, the regional minister said.
A second unique feature, he said, is that in the Bulgarian toll system, all known models of law enforcement are united – Automated through the densest network of stationary checkpoints in Europe and through three parallel bodies: RIA, Ministry of the Interior and Customs Agency in the areas of border checkpoints. This ensures effective law enforcement for transit traffic and an effective collection mechanism through an electronic form for natural and legal persons with permanent domicile in Bulgaria, Avramova said.
The third essential functionality is maintain your own area (domain) to process card payments (including fuel card payments) without the mediation of a commercial bank, Avramova said.
As a result, the Bulgarian electronic toll system is evaluated by international experts such as modern technological solution without analog in Europesaid the regional minister.
These circumstances show that after the implementation of the system and the award of the contract, it has been significantly complicated due to the introduction of new functionalities. For this reason, the initial resources foreseen in the AIR for the technical operation do not correspond to the current state of complexity and development of the project. Therefore, RIA experts justify the need to provide additional services and thus motivate the granting of another 141 million BGN for KapshAvramova explained.
He clarified that there is still no annex to the contract with the system contractor, which would settle the additional payments. The unannounced negotiated procedure began in August.
The BSP deputies were not satisfied with the response and in response to their request for the next parliamentary control on December 18, a debate on tolls policy is scheduled.
Socialists see lobbying interests at low rates in favor of certain companies.
“What is the reason, literally at the last moment, before the State takes over the entire operation of the toll system, it suddenly delegates it to another, for a solid sum of 141 million for a period of 5 years ?“asked Manol Genov from BSP.
For now, it is clear that in the next three years there will be no billions of toll fees. According to the updated budget forecast, the reasons for the 2021 Budget indicate that in 2023 the expected revenue from tolls and electronic vignettes is expected to reach BGN 672 million, which means that the government has focused on the most pessimistic option proposed by the consultant. on the introduction of the toll system – the World Bank.
Did you find this article helpful?
We will be happy if you support the electronic edition Mediapool.bg, so that you can continue to rely on an independent, professional and honest information analysis medium.
Support us
Subscribe to the most important news, analysis and commentary on the day’s events. The newsletter is sent to your email address every day at 18:00.
Subscription
[ad_2]
