Minister Butković: Toll on Krk Bridge to be abolished June 15

Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković on Tuesday announced that the government would most probably adopt a decision this week to merge two state-run motorway operators while the bridge toll on the Krk Bridge would be abolished as of June 15.

Minister Butkovic told that the government would probably decide on Thursday on the merger of the Hrvatske Autoceste (HAC) and Autocesta Rijeka-Zagreb (ARZ) state-run motorway operators: "This is the continuation of the restructuring of the road sector because at the start of our term, after we decided against the monetisation and sale of the motorways, we embarked on restructuring the sector. We have adopted a set of measures, one of which is to merge these two companies which was not possible immediately, seeing that international creditors are involved.". - Minister Butkovic noted and added that the total debt of the road sector is about five billion euro.

Minister Butkovic also explained that some creditors were opposed to the merger and negotiations lasted for quite a while. Now that conditions have been created with the assistance of the Finance Ministry, the decision on the merger can be made.

"That means one management, one public procurement, and business rationalisation, which is something truly good.". - Minister Butkovic said and alsoexplained that the State had set aside about HRK 27 million a year for all physical and legal persons living or registered on the island of Krk, as well as on the islands of Cres, Losinj and Rab which are connected to Krk island by ferry, and who were exempt from paying the bridge toll: "Now no one will have to pay the bridge toll, wich will be abolished as of June 15. This decision is not connected to the coming parliamentary election." - Minister Butkovic said.

(Hina)

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