From January 4, every car that crosses the Thumanë-Kashar road pays 2.5 euros. After the "National Road", where citizens with family cars pay 5 euros per pass, this is the second road in Albania where payment is applied.
To compare the fees that citizens have to pay for the maintenance of these roads in relation to other countries, let's see how the payments vary in the Western Balkans.
Thus, for each crossing on the Thuman-Kashar road, an average of 1 euro is paid for every 8.4 km.
In North Macedonia, 1 euro is paid for every 23.8 kilometers of the Gostivar-Kumanovo road.
In Serbia, the Preševo-Subotica segment has an average of 1 euro for every 23.6 km of road.
In Montenegro, 1 euro is paid for every 14.2 km of the Podgorica-Matesevo road.
While in Bosnia, the Banja Luka-Doboj road has an average of 1 euro for every 15 km of road.
The "Thumane-Kashar" road was opened for traffic on June 30, 2024.
Payment of the Thumanë-Kashar road according to categories:
- Motorcycles 1.8 euros
- Cars 2.5 euros
- Vans and buses 6.25 euros
- Trucks 8.75 euros
The concession companies "Gener 2" and "Infra 2", for 35 years, according to the agreement signed with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, it is predicted that they will benefit 1.3 billion euros, while their investment for the construction of this road was only 271 million euros.
What was the protest about?
Citizens dozens followed in succession protest of more than hundreds of residents who protested during the months of August - October for access to the new highway. The new highway cut in the middle of an existing roundabout, which was built with the intention of connecting the road with the new axis that would follow. After many denunciations, physical violence, their resistance found one alternative solutions.
"Provisionally they will access the existing Gramza overpass, with a dedicated ramp that will be built for them in the coming weeks" - said Deputy Prime Minister Balluku during the interpellation in parliament on September 12.
But after the payment was launched on January 4, some residents admitted to Citizens that they do not agree with the fee and will continue to use the old road.
"No lek, I don't go in there! I will not go there. I don't want to give him money, I'll go through the old road" - says Andi Gjoka.
Faced with this fact, the sacrifice of hundreds of residents for the significant wave of protests seems to have not yet managed to provide a solution to these communities.
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
