Disadvantageous toll system

The state continues to pay SkyToll (PPF) to operate the old toll system, even though a tender for a new supplier began in 2020, according to the supreme audit authority NKÚ. The state paid €250m to build the old system but does not own it. It now plans to buy toll gates from SkyToll, effectively paying twice. SkyToll, then controlled by Milan Fiľo and J&T, won the contract under suspicious circumstances after all other bidders were excluded during Robert Fico’s first cabinet. The tender for a new toll system was won by CzechToll (PPF), but it has yet to launch it, despite raising the price from €42.5m to €70m.

Toll collection rose to €319m last year, with half already generated via EETS, a system different from SkyToll’s; SkyToll collected €104m, or 30% of revenues, down from 50% in 2010-21. CzechToll is to receive “only” 10% for operating the new system.

(ZK)