site.btaToll Taxes Must Be Introduced for All Secondary Roads, Regional Development Minister Karadjov Says

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister and Regional Development and Public Works Minister Grozdan Karadjov said that his ministry proposes to increase road toll taxes from July 1 but with an initial transition period of six months in which the increase will be only half the total increase envisaged. The toll tax increase will be in full from January 1, 2023.

Karadjov restated that the toll system should be introduced for all the secondary roads in the country. Both heavy and light duty vehicles should pay when using motorways, primary and secondary roads, the Minister said after his meeting with carriers on Monday. Karadjov described the proposal as “appropriate”.

Yordan Arabadjiev, chairman of the Union of International Carriers said that they proposed various other options which were rejected. The introduction of toll taxes for secondary roads will reflect on the prices of goods transported by trucks, and Bulgarian citizens will feel the price rise in the next two or three months, he said. In his words, the introduction of toll taxes makes transit traffic pay some 20% less for passing through Bulgaria while Bulgarian consumers cover this difference.

The hauliers have not yet decided if they will stage more protests, but their representatives restated that they still demand the resignation of Transport Minister Nikolay Sabev.