As revealed from the lists of contracts that calculate the revenue of each highway until 2032 with the current paying system, the
revenue for 2013 for the Athens-Thiva part will reach 78,1mil euros. If the electronic tolls are implemented the estimation talks about 49,6mil euros revenue which means that the company will collect 28,3 less!
As members from the movement against tolls from Northeastern Attica explain, this difference shows the unfair fees paid by locals for their local movements, as Nea Odos is implementing a system of zones for the payment if tolls.
For the disputed part of Athens-Thiva, part of zone A from Metamorfosi to Schimatari 51km long, drivers are forced to pay the equivalent of 51km at the frontal station in Afidnes regardless of the distance covered.
And according to Takis Kouris, engineer and member of the movement’s committee, the consortium was obliged to adopt an electronic system since August 2009 with the delivery of some parts of the network. It never happened.
The electronic tolls issue part of the negotiation between government and contractors but according to information it is only one measure to which the consortiums are opposed. A government official transferred to us an indicative dialogue with a representative of a major European constructor where he said that electronic tolls will not solve the problem since «the Greeks are not cultured to pay tolls»! According to Ioanna Germanou, resident of Oropos, representative from Highway Aegean AE that is constructing the Maliakos-Kleidi part including the lethal pass at Tempi, recently stated that the main funding of these projects is the toll fares.
«He unwillingly admitted that his company with a zero investment danger, is asking the driver to fund his project and he will continue to collect clear revenue for the next 30yrs without risks. Thus, the driver is a colleague but without any claim on revenue, nor a future benefit with decrease of fare»she says.
However, the Infrastructure ministry with a press announcement states that after the consultation of the Data Protection Authority, it will grant constructors who build and operate the national highways, the personal details of drivers who do not pay tolls. These details include name and address of owner as included in the drivers’ license database of the ministry. It is noted that the Authority has given its approval since December 20 2010 but information say that the ministry could not implement it so far due to legal gaps.
BY MARIANNA JANNE
SOURCE: PROTO THEMA
