Rhodope Chamber slams new toll policy on Egnatia Motorway, warns of economic impact

Strong backlash is mounting against new toll policies on the Egnatia Odos, with the Professional and Craft Chamber of Rhodope warning of serious economic and social consequences.

In a sharply worded statement, the chamber criticized measures introduced on April 3, arguing they place an unfair burden on households and businesses while undermining regional economic stability.

Key Changes Triggering Reaction
According to the chamber, the new toll framework includes:

• Mandatory matching of the driver’s name with the toll pass, even for family vehicles
• Effective abolition of shared use for household cars
• Exclusion of professional vehicles from free transit schemes
• Toll cost increases of up to 30%
• Removal of exemptions, requiring even unemployed citizens to pay

“These are not minor administrative adjustments,” the chamber stated. “They amount to a system that shifts costs directly onto citizens and businesses without social sensitivity or logic.”

Impact on Local Economy
The chamber emphasized that the changes are expected to:

• Increase transportation and logistics costs
• Disrupt small businesses and craftsmen
• Weaken the competitiveness of local enterprises
• Add pressure on already strained households

It also noted that Egnatia Odos serves as a critical economic lifeline for border regions, connecting them to national and European markets.

Concerns Over Lack of Alternatives
Officials highlighted the absence of viable alternative routes, stressing that secondary roads are often unsafe or poorly lit. Additionally, they pointed to infrastructure gaps along a roughly 250-kilometer stretch, including:

• Limited fuel stations
• Lack of organized rest and parking areas
• Sections of deteriorating road surface
• Call for Immediate Government Action

The chamber is urging the Greek government to:

• Reconsider and withdraw the current measures
• Reinstate fair and realistic toll exemptions
• Introduce targeted support for professionals and vulnerable groups

“The professionals cannot tolerate further burdens. Citizens are not a revenue collection mechanism,” the statement concluded.

The dispute underscores growing tensions over infrastructure costs in northern Greece, where access and affordability remain key concerns for regional development.