Toll on Czech motorways to increase next year

The toll on Czech motorways could increase by 10 to 15 percent from next March, Transport Minister Martin Kupka said in an interview for Czech Television on Sunday, adding that the increase is needed to cover the investments in transport infrastructure.

More than 100 kilometers of motorways should open in Czechia next year. According to Mr. Kupka, the toll increase should bring up an extra two billion crowns to the state budget, At the moment, the toll brings some CZK 14 billion into state coffers.

Mr Kupka says the increase is made possible by a change in the European directive and that the toll can be increased by emission charges. The government has previously announced that the price of the annual motorway vignette will increase next year to CZK 2,300 from the current CZK 1,500.