DUSHANBE, November 5, 2009, Asia-Plus — Every year, huge investments, including loans for construction and rehabilitation of motor roads, are provided to Tajikistan and we will have to repay these loans; therefore, introduction of toll roads is an important step for the republic.
Aloviddin Anoyatshoyev, the head of the main road maintenance directorate within the Ministry of Transport and Communications, remarked this at an international seminar entitled “On the Path to Efficient Transportation Roads” in Dushanbe on November 4.
According to him, under the conditions of an active development of bilateral and multilateral relations between countries, motor road must meet international standards and requirements that needs additional financing.
“Every year, the country’s national budget earmarks more than 100 million U.S. dollars for construction and rehabilitation of motor roads, while only some 7.5 million U.S. dollars are projected for maintenance of roads and purchase of necessary machines and equipment as well as payment of wages to employees of road-servicing facilities,” said Anoyatshoyev. “This amount is not enough for proper maintenance of motor roads.”
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll (a fee) for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds.
Three systems of toll roads exist: open (with mainline barrier toll plazas); closed (with entry/exit tolls) and all-electronic toll collection (no toll booths, only electronic toll collection gantries at entrances and exits, or at strategic locations on the mainline of the road).
