The benefits resulting from the new Attica Road Concession Agreement are significant and it marks the happy end to an extremely difficult project.

As the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Christos Staikouras, pointed out, the Greek State, with this contract, collects 3.27 billion euros, the highest amount that has ever been collected from the utilization of TAIPED assets, while the cumulative benefit reaches the 7 billion euros over a 25-year horizon.

Indeed, from Sunday, October 6, the price of tolls is reduced from 2.8 euros to 2.5 euroswhile for the first time it is imposed permanent exemption from paying tolls for private passenger vehicles owned by disabled and war disabled persons.

In addition, with the new Convention, the further improvement of road safety is sought, as the cooperation between the public and private sector in the concessions has to show tangible and measurable results in the reduction of accidents.

In particular, the new concession contract for Attica Road, the emblematic highway, 70 km long, with – on average – 280,000 vehicle crossings per day and with 400,000 subscribers, is going to offer the following benefits:

1) The Greek State collects 3.27 billion Euros, an amount that increases the total resources of the state, reduces the general financial needs of the General Government by the same amount, reduces the level of the public debt, by 1.5 units of the GDP, while, at the same time, it significantly improves its sustainability indicators.

2) In addition to the payment of the one-off financial price, the Concessionaire will pay, annually, to TAIPED a rate of at least 7.5% on all types of revenue from the operation of the highway.

3) The Agreement under ratification provides for an immediate reduction of the tolls, from 2.8 to 2.5 euros, from Sunday, October 6, i.e. from the day the highway will be handed over from the Greek State to the new Concessionaire.

4) Continuity of highway workers was ensured, ensuring that not a single job was lost.

5) Provision is made for the permanent exemption from toll payment for private passenger vehicles fully owned by persons with disabilities and severely disabled war invalids, while disabled persons are also exempt from toll payment, even if the vehicle used for their transfer does not belong to them in full ownership. The same applies to the vans for the disabled, institutional and non-institutional.

6) During the concession, the new Concessionaire will implement investments and upgrade and modernization costs estimated at 380 million euros.

7) In addition, the right of the new Concessionaire for any additional consideration or monetary compensation arises, if the Greek State, in the context of exercising its right arising from it, but also its policy in general, including its fiscal policy, causes changes in the choice of means of transport, changes in the size and/or composition of traffic, its statistical characteristics and their evolution over time.

8) Public and private sector cooperation can be mutually beneficial for both sides as the public interest through the financing, operation and maintenance of the highway and, on the other hand, also cover the private entity, through of its exploitation.

9) With the Convention under ratification, it is sought:

  • the promotion of the seamless and safe movement of persons,
  • the fastest and most efficient transport of goods,
  • meeting current and future transport demand, and
  • the strengthening of the smooth operation of the road traffic system in the Attica basin, an integral and necessary part of which the Attiki Odos has been for more than two decades.

10) Finally, the new Concession Agreement seeks to upgrade road safety.