Armenia to install tolled highways system
04.09.2020,
16:48
Armenia plans to install a toll system on motorways, however, it will not apply to all car owners, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Armen Simonyan said on Friday during an online conference.
YEREVAN, September 4. /ARKA/. Armenia plans to install a toll system on motorways, however, it will not apply to all car owners, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Armen Simonyan said on Friday during an online conference.
He said according to the amendments to the Law On Highways, the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Tax Code, the toll system will be installed only for vehicles weighing 12 tons or more.
The toll road charge is 50 drams (about 10 US cents) for each kilometer. The size of the charge will be set by the government of Armenia for every year. The toll system will apply both to Armenia and foreign-registered vehicles, he said.
According to Simonyan, the legislative regulation of this issue is conditioned by Armenia's international obligations, particularly, by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the European Union. One of its provisions calls for installment of tolled highways in Armenia.
According to the deputy minister, news reports about the installment of tolled highways caused concern of many motorists, especially taxi drivers, who argued that they would have to pay about 25 thousand drams for driving a passenger from Yerevan to Goris.
The deputy minister reiterated that the change applies only to vehicles weighing 12 tons or more, to trucks that carry out commercial activities and to individuals who operate a vehicle weighing more than 12 tons.
He also said the amount of 50 drams per kilometer was suggested after looking into the experience of various European countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria, as well as into the condition of Armenian roads as the greatest damage to the roads is caused by vehicles weighing 12 tons or more tons.
He also said Armenian drivers making interstate cargo transportations will have to undergo certification.
According to him, the organizations that carry out interstate passenger and cargo transportation must comply with certain international requirements, which are provided not only by the above-mentioned agreement with the EU, but also by the Quality Charter, which Armenia joined in 2003.
He said some of the Charter's provisions have not yet been introduced in Armenia, and the authorities are trying to fill this legislative gap.
"The legislative amendments will stipulate that organizations that carry out interstate transportation operations must have financial stability, good reputation, which, according to European requirements, implies the absence of a large number of fines for drivers,' Simonyan said.
According to him, these criteria can also influence the authorities' decision on granting a license to transportation companies. -0-
He said according to the amendments to the Law On Highways, the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Tax Code, the toll system will be installed only for vehicles weighing 12 tons or more.
The toll road charge is 50 drams (about 10 US cents) for each kilometer. The size of the charge will be set by the government of Armenia for every year. The toll system will apply both to Armenia and foreign-registered vehicles, he said.
According to Simonyan, the legislative regulation of this issue is conditioned by Armenia's international obligations, particularly, by the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the European Union. One of its provisions calls for installment of tolled highways in Armenia.
According to the deputy minister, news reports about the installment of tolled highways caused concern of many motorists, especially taxi drivers, who argued that they would have to pay about 25 thousand drams for driving a passenger from Yerevan to Goris.
The deputy minister reiterated that the change applies only to vehicles weighing 12 tons or more, to trucks that carry out commercial activities and to individuals who operate a vehicle weighing more than 12 tons.
He also said the amount of 50 drams per kilometer was suggested after looking into the experience of various European countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria, as well as into the condition of Armenian roads as the greatest damage to the roads is caused by vehicles weighing 12 tons or more tons.
He also said Armenian drivers making interstate cargo transportations will have to undergo certification.
According to him, the organizations that carry out interstate passenger and cargo transportation must comply with certain international requirements, which are provided not only by the above-mentioned agreement with the EU, but also by the Quality Charter, which Armenia joined in 2003.
He said some of the Charter's provisions have not yet been introduced in Armenia, and the authorities are trying to fill this legislative gap.
"The legislative amendments will stipulate that organizations that carry out interstate transportation operations must have financial stability, good reputation, which, according to European requirements, implies the absence of a large number of fines for drivers,' Simonyan said.
According to him, these criteria can also influence the authorities' decision on granting a license to transportation companies. -0-
