Drivers in Albania to start paying road toll for first time

TIRANA, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Durres-Kukes highway, known also as the ALbanian Nation's Road, will be Albania's first toll road starting from April 15, 2018, Albanian ministry of transport and energy confirmed Monday.

The technical test that started Sunday will last for two weeks.

After the test, every driver getting on the Nation's Road will have to pay an average toll of 5 euros.

The ministry said that the application of the toll was necessary as it would be used for the highway maintenance.

But the charge triggered concerns over increased costs among local residents in one of the country's poorest areas and the negative effects on Kosovo tourists, who account for about half of total foreign visitors to Albania.

Opposition leader Lulzim Basha said in a post on social networks that when Democrats came into power they would cancel the concession.

Local residents have warned of escalation of protests as they said they could not afford paying 10 euros just to go to capital city and go back home.

Businesses operating alongside the highway have objected the tax too saying it would increase their transport costs, especially due to high tax on trucks or trailers.

However, Albanian authorities insisted that the implementation of toll was crucial to the road's maintenance. Enditem