Kapsch, transport ministry, reach agreement on contract addendum

The electronic toll systems company Kapsch and the transport ministry have negotiated changes to a contract on the Czech Republic's new electronic toll system that will require the company to pay 14 million crowns per day - more than 600,000 US dollars - for every day the system is not up and running as of January 2007. The system introduces electronic "gates" that tally tolls for trucks 12 tonnes and over. The company has backed the potential sanctions with a 660 million crown bank guarantee.