Portugal has decided to end tolls on some motorways from 1 January 2025. This will mark a loss of 180 million Euros as reported by the State Budget. This measure of toll exemption from 1 January has been approved by the Parliament and will be implemented from the new year.
Tolls To Be Exempted From New Year
The government has decided to end the toll tax on many motorways from 1 January 2025. This decision has been taken by the Parliament which passed a bill. This bill was passed by the opposition together with the members of Parliament. It is based on the law of 37/2024. The report has stated an inflow of 545 million euros which is now around 390 million.
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This toll evasion has affected the toll revenue of 180 million euros. This amount is raised by the public sector of the areas like:
- Algarve
- Norte Litoral
- Beiras Litoral
- Alta
- Interior Norte
- Some areas of Pinhal Interior and Transmontana
The report further stated that:
[Elimination of toll] on sections and sub-sections of certain highways in the interior and where there are no alternative routes that allow quality and safe use.
The reduction in the toll cost will have to be processed with the current toll collection of these roads. They will have to deduct the amount which is still not calculated. This amount would compensate for some of the lost revenue of 180 million euros. There is no calculation done about how much the amount should be deducted. It is stated by the report that:
Reduction in costs with the toll collection service, essentially a consequence of the exclusion of values relating to sections and sub-sections covered by Law No. 37/2024, of August 7.
Bill Approved For Toll Exemption
The bill for the exemption of tolls was presented in parliament. This bill was supported by two major parties which had also presented a loss of 180 million euros for the State to support their argument. The PS party has assured the government that the impact on the budget will be around 157 million euros.
This same bill was presented by the PS party. It was approved with the support of socialist deputies and the members of the Chega, Bloco de Esquerda, PCP, Livre, and PAN parties. The Liberal initiative had voted against the PSD and CDS-PP. All the parties that supported the bill for tax exemption are as follows:
- Chega
- Bloco de Esquerda
- Portuguese Communist Party (PCP)
- Livre Party
- People-Animals-Nature (PAN)
The toll collection from the A4 motorway will be abolished from the new year, 1 January 2025. Some of the other motorways and roads will also be exempted from toll tax. These roads are A4 (Transmontana and Túnel do Marão), A13 and A13-1, A22, A23, A24, A25. Some sections of the road A28 are also exempted from toll tax. This section of A28 is located between Esposende and Antas and between Neiva and Darque.
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