Slovak Highway Tolls Up 40 percent as of July, Third of Revenues to Private..(2)

Bratislava, April 25 (TASR) - As of July, highway tolls in Slovakia will increase by 40 percent, with a third of the revenues going to a private company, as politicians and the leadership of the National Highway Company (NDS) have long been adapting the system to channel a significant share of the profits to private firms such as SkyToll or CzechToll, according to representatives of the 'Lets Stop Corruption' foundation and hauliers unions, who are threatening to block roads if the Transport Ministry fails to negotiate with them. "We're calling on the transport minister and the head of the National Highway Company to finally sit down at the negotiating table with the Union of Slovak Hauliers. If this doesn't happen within a certain time frame, for example, within a month, the Union of Slovak Hauliers is prepared to organise another protest. We'll try to block border crossings," said union head Stanislav Skala. Hauliers pay toll fees for using Slovak highways, Skala noted, but even with the planned increase not all of the money will go towards maintaining roads. "Despite repeated promises from various prime ministers and transport ministers, 38 cents in every euro still goes to a private company. At a time when Slovakia urgently needs to repair its highways and bridges, it's unacceptable for politicians to waste toll revenues in this way," stressed Skala. "The Union of Slovak Road Hauliers has called an emergency meeting of hauliers for 5 p.m. on Friday to discuss what to do next. A decision is expected on the same day on whether to launch a full-scale strike, as hauliers are already calling us and offering their lorries to block border crossings or certain sections within the Slovak Republic," said Road Assistance Alliance president Marian Urge. Urge added that as of July, in addition to the toll increases, emission classes for hauliers will also be adjusted, meaning that older and less environmentally friendly vehicles will face even higher charges. "It's unacceptable to waste money meant for highways and to gamble with our road safety for the benefit of a private company. Toll revenues doesn't belong to politicians, they are meant to be spent on our roads," added Xenia Makarova from the 'Lets Stop Corruption' foundation. NOTE: This story has been updated to include paragraphs 4-6. lin/df