The Government is evaluating "different solutions" to implement the reduction of tolls "as approved" by parliament in the State Budget for 2021, since the measure is constitutional, said the Minister of Territorial Cohesion today.
“From the legal analysis that was done, it was concluded that the rules are not unconstitutional, but they have big implications, namely because this weight, these implications on the budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing now have to be reassessed and we have to find compensations”, said Ana Abrunhosa.
Parliament previously voted and ordered a 50% reduction in tolls on some inland roads, but in today's planning meeting of the Assembly of the Republic on the topic of Territorial Cohesion, the Social Democrat deputy Luís Leite Ramos said he was "a little disturbed when I see that the minister is outlining the strategy to try to stop, block, even postpone this decision".
In response, the Minister for Territorial Cohesion said that the measure that was approved in the State Budget “has heavy budgetary implications”, but added that the Government is working on finding solutions to “be able to implement the reduction of tolls as approved in the Assembly of the Republic ”.
The main ministries involved in this work are Territorial Cohesion, Infrastructure and Housing and Finance, with different solutions being evaluated to implement the toll reduction measure, after having concluded that it is constitutional.
At issue are the discounts in the collection of toll fees, included in the State Budget law for 2021, after PSD proposal, which provides for a 50% reduction for all combustion vehicles and 75% for electric and non-electric vehicles. As of July 1st, the discounted prices should be applicable to all stretches and sub-stretches of the A22, A23, A24 and A25 motorways and in the Costa de Prata, Grande Porto and Norte Litoral concessions.
By Government decision, other toll discounts on the old SCUT (roads at no cost to the user) and inland highways came into effect on January 11th this year, with reductions between 25% and 55%, depending on the vehicle class and the day or night period, in certain sections of the A22 - Algarve; A23 - IP; A23 - Beira Interior; A24 - North Interior; A25 - Beiras Litoral and Alta; A28 - North Coast; A4 - AE sub-concession from Trás-os-Montes; A4 - Marão Tunnel; A13 and A13-1 - Pinhal Interior sub-concession.
Original article available in Portuguese at http://postal.pt/
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