Kosovo highways also to be paid

It's about the “Ibrahim Rugova” highway connecting Kosovo with Albania, whose construction was completed in 2013, and the “Arba Xhaferi” highway, connecting Pristina with Skopje and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Rexhep Kadriu, deputy minister of Infrastructure in the Government of Kosovo, tells Radio Free Europe that from next year the feasibility study on the issue will begin. But, Kadriu promises that the road tax will be affordable for Kosovo citizens.

We will enter the feasibility study process in 2019 and wait a year or two to prepare, get opinions, citizen debates, nongovernmental organisations and set up a tax. But, which Kosovo's tax will be much lower than that of the nation's dealt with “, Kadriu says.

Official Tirana has imposed a road tax on all those travelling to “The nation's path” in the Albanian section, from 5 to 22.5 euros, depending on the weight of the vehicle.

The price for this tax is being rejected by Kosovo citizens and businesses, as it estimates they are the most frequent users of the highway. While officials of the Ministry of Infrastructure in the Government of Kosovo have said they have failed to talk with government officials in the matter.

However, Rexhep Kadriu says even after making the decision to set the road tax, not all Kosovo citizens are obliged to exploit the paid highways, as alternative routes exist for both highways.

It is easier and better to impose taxes, because actually in both directions for Albania and Macedonia we have alternative roads, old ways which are extremely good. And citizens who have no condition to travel across the highway can take alternative routes. This makes it easier for citizens, while there are no alternative routes available to citizens, unless they have any other means to use”, Kadriu says.

Even communications experts say the country's highways should be paid but not at Albania's tax level.

Nol Deday, professor of Communication at UBT College, in a conversation for Radio Free Europe says that imposing taxes on highway exploitation should be done because of management and maintenance from the private sector, but that, according to him, the tax should be affordable.

“Tear should be set after a detailed study in order to set an acceptable price. I hope that the Kosovo highway meets some other criteria compared to Albania's highway, because it passes through the middle of Kosovo and I don't believe the cost shouldn't be as expensive as the Albanian street tax”, Dedaj says.

Kosovo's two highways built with the country's budget total over one and a half billion euros without any external assistance.

The Durres highway -- Kukes ʹMine -- connecting Kosovo with Albania called “Ibrahim Rugova” -- is officially costing over 700m euros.

At the end of this year, the Skopje Pristina highway, called “Arba Xhaferi”, about 60km long, is expected to end, and that Kosovo's budget will cost 600m euros.