Happy New Year with toll fare increases

Toll increases for drivers at the beginning of the new year, a few weeks after the decision of the Urban Planning Department of Kapandriti to seal off as unauthorised three of the eight stations of Nea Odos AE in the Athens-Lamia network.

They insist that side stations in Kapandriti, Malakasa, as well as the frontal station at Aifidnes, along with the administration buildings of the corporation, are all unauthorised, as they were built without the proper permits.

The new increases concern the inflation adjustment applicable under the concession at the beginning of each year and have been implemented since midnight Sunday throughout the toll network of Ionia Street and a station on the Central Greece Axis (E65), which connects the Patra-Athens-Thessaloniki-Efzonoi road with Egnatia.

For the Ionia Odos works, the new prices for private cars in Aifidnes toll station will be 2,05 euros, from 1,90, while for big trucks the fare will go up from 6,80 to 7,25 euros. The toll fare in Kapandriti, Malakasa, Oinofyta and the Thiva side station has increased by 0,05 cents,while bigger increases are in place at the frontal stations in Thiva (2,35 to 2,50) and in Tragana (2,25 to 2,40).

The fares for motorbikes and cars have remained the same (1,10 and 1,55 euros respectively) at the Aghia Triada station in Lamia. There are slightly decreased fares for buses and medium-sized trucks, from 4 to 3,95 euros, and from 5,60 to 5,55 euros for big trucks.

Dynamic protests are being prepared for January 9 by the Panhellenic Committee for the fight against tolls, with the opening of all stations from Thessaloniki to Kalamata. As they report, the fight will continue, as these tolls surround entire local communities, do not diminish the grave human sacrifices and diminish employment chances, giving as an example the laying off of 26 Vinci employees in Olympia Odos, which is constructing the «sinful» Korinthos-Patra road.