Citizens still have to pay tolls for the Meljine-Petijevići road

Citizens of Herceg Novi, Trebinje and other cities still have to pay tolls for the Meljine-Petijevići road, despite numerous letters to the previous authorities, attempts by the Municipality to solve the problem, which would relieve citizens, the economy and tourists.

The Meljine-Petijevići road was opened in 2009 and is the first concession on a road in Montenegro, under the BOT system (take, build, use and return). The contract was signed for 20 years, and when it expires, "Universal Monte" should return the road to the Municipality.

In addition, "Univerzal Monte" received the right to build two gas stations, restaurants, a parking lot, and a shopping center along this section, but this was not done.

The first man of Herceg Novi, Stevan Katic, told "Vijesta" that this is a problem for the citizens, the municipality and the state, and that it is "a great shame".

"The essence of the story is that this company has a concession for another eight years and it should be charged for that period. However, we believe, especially since 2016, when the state recategorized that road, it is no longer local but highway, that it should be resolved. But this mortgage, or concession, was left. My colleague from Trebinje and I had talks with the concessionaire, who then said that the state can only pay him what he invested, not the profit. He sent his calculation to the former Government, but it could not be resolved then. Two months ago, he also sent it to the new government. I expect that issue to be finally resolved. It's a shame - when you come to the border crossing, they ask you to pay, many people don't understand what they're paying for, because the road is in bad condition," Katic said.

He explained that the investor asked for 2017 million at the meeting in 5,5, which is what they had left to repay.

"And I think that now they have made an offer that they have about four million left. Because they invested about 12 million," Katic said.

He pointed out that the state could use the facility, where tolls are collected, as a border crossing.

Katic stated that because of this road, the people of Trebinje also had objections, that a good road was built from that town to the border with Montenegro. "And then they enter our territory and they are charged for a bad road too. That's why it's more worthwhile for the people of Trebinje to go to Dubrovnik, because here they would have to pay six euros or 12 convertible marks just to pass through the road," Katic concluded.

Democrat MP Tamara Vujović recently asked the Minister of Capital Investments Mladen Bojanić in the Parliament whether the state will help the citizens of Herceg Novi to resolve the issue of toll collection on that road after 12 years.

She pointed out that from 2009 to 2020, 1,7 million vehicles crossed this crossing, the toll ramp, 10,5 million euros in tolls were collected, which indicates that there is a significant flow of people and goods at this crossing.

"Collecting a toll for 12 kilometers of a regional road represents a significant barrier for cooperation, economy, and tourism," said Vujović.

Bojanić clarified that according to the contract, the right of redemption belongs to the Municipality, not the state.