The Ministry of Transport and Monteput, i.e. the Government of Montenegro, decided another 100.000 euros for subsidies to the people of Crmnič for passing through the Sozina tunnel, in addition to the 100.000 euros that the Municipality of Bar has earmarked for these purposes in the next year, and in this way an agreement was reached between the citizens and the authorities.
This is what Miroslav Mašić, director general of the Directorate for State Roads in the Ministry of Transport, told "Vijesta".
The citizens of Crmnič and residents of the surrounding villages protested this summer by blocking the road near Virpazar for two hours or less, and they also protested in front of the Municipality of Bar. Their demands were the adoption of amendments to the Law on Roads that provide for free passage for residents on the north side of the ramp, and when that idea did not pass, they demanded the signing of such a contract with the authorities.
Those conditions were later modified, so they required similar conditions for those who have property in Crmnica or take care of family members and live in Bar. Although these specific demands were not met, the protests were stopped, and the Ministry of Transport claims that an agreement was reached.
As Mašić said, in order to solve the problem that caused the suspension of traffic through the Sozina tunnel by the locals of Crmnica, and for the reason that they believed that they had the right to be exempted from paying the toll for passing through the tunnel, the Ministry of Transport initiated several meetings with representatives of the locals , Monteputo and the Municipality of Bar.
At the meetings, it was presented that, based on the current legal solution, only certain categories of vehicles are exempt from paying tolls, both for passing through the Sozin tunnel and for using the highway, and that these categories do not include individual categories of residents of any local self-government unit, and therefore categories that are the subject of the request.
All participants of the meeting agreed that in order to overcome the problem, it is necessary to look at the available possibilities and find the best solution in accordance with the current legal restrictions, stated Mašić, with the aim of providing defined categories of users who need to travel frequently, and for the needs of meeting daily life needs , reduce financial expenses for the use of the Sozina tunnel.
"It was concluded that the local communities from the territory of Crmnica define special categories of users for which certain financial resources would be provided through a donation from the Government, i.e. Monteput and the Municipality, for subsidizing passage through the Sozina tunnel, which would cover part of the costs they are exposed to in their daily journeys", he stressed.
As it was agreed at the meeting in the Ministry of Transport, the Government and Monteput increased the funds for the subsidy, which for the next year amount to 100.000 euros, which, together with the funds provided by the Municipality, represents a financial amount that will significantly cover the costs incurred by the citizens of Crmnica during their daily trips on the route Crmnica - Bar and vice versa, and for the needs of work, education, treatment and the like.
The Ministry of Transport, as the state administration body responsible for the implementation of the Law on Roads, additionally clarified to the residents that the existing legal solution does not provide the possibility of exemption from the obligation to pay tolls for passing through the Sozina tunnel, with the exception of certain categories of vehicles such as vehicles marked with an accessibility sign, vehicles police, emergency medical services, protection and rescue services, state road inspections and official vehicles of road managers, and that the only way to maintain the current system of subsidies for local residents who, for objective reasons, have a need frequent passage through the tunnel.
"Also, it was presented that the then proposed solution of amendments to the Law on Roads has no basis in EU regulations and that it would be discriminatory for other citizens," said Mašić.
When asked if the Ministry is working on a long-term solution to the problem and in what way, he replied that the Ministry and Monteput are considering the possibility and modality of giving certain discounts for drivers who frequently use the Sozin tunnel or the highway, regardless of the place of vehicle registration, which would give the opportunity to all traffic participants who use these road routes, and which they use frequently, to obtain certain discounts on the payment of tolls.
"Such a solution would be long-term and would not be discriminatory and therefore represents a legal and sustainable solution," Mašić concluded.
Monteput did not respond to questions about this issue and the agreement with the citizens, while some Crmni residents told "Vijesta" that they had submitted documentation for subsidies to the local community and were waiting for feedback.
Through the amendment of the Decision on the Budget, the Municipality of Bar increased the amount of subsidies by 100 percent, i.e. allocated even more money to the current 50.000 euros.
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