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The ministerial decree on the toll stations to be placed along Egnatia highway
was published in the Official Gazette on Monday. Under the joint decision of Minister of Infrastructure Michalis Chrysochoidis and Minister of Finance Gikas Hardouvelis, there will be 13+5 toll stations along the highway at which drivers will pay a toll for certain paid sections, as follows:

- Tiria (between Neohori and Seli), the paid zone being Igoumenitsa-Dodoni, 60 km long.
- Pamvotida (between Pamvotida and Arachtos), the paid zone being Dodoni-Arachtos, 32 km long, which will be operational after 1 April 2015.
- Malakasa (between Anilio and Panagia), the paid zone being Arachtos-Panagia, 30 km long.
- Venetiko (between Panagia-Venetiko), the paid zone being Panagia-Kozani, 80 km long, which will be operational after 1 November 2015.
- Polimilos (between Kozani and Veria), the paid zone being Kozani-Klidi, 84 km long.
- Malgara (between Malgara and Axios), the paid zone being Klidi-Kalohori, 24 km long.
- Thessaloniki (between Ionia-Efkarpia), the paid zone being Kalohori-Langadas, 21 km long, which will be operational after 1 May 2016.
- Analipsi (between Langadas-Profitis), the paid zone being Langadas-Rendina, 51 km long, which will be operational after 1 January 2016.
- Asprovalta (between Asprovalta and Kerdilia), the paid zone being Rendina-Strimonas, 29 km long, which will be operational after 1 January 2016, with a length of 25 kilometres from Amphipolis.
- Mousteni (between Mousteni and Elefteroupouli), the paid zone being Strimonas-Agios Andreas, 42 km long.
- Kavala (between Agios Silas-Aspra Homata), the paid zone being Agios Andreas-Chrisoupoli, 40 km long, which will be operational after 1 January 2016.
- Iasmos (between Vafeika and Iasmos), the paid zone being Chrissoupoli-Eastern Komotini, 70 km long.
- Mesti (between the industrial zone of Komotini and Mesti), the paid zone being Eastern Komotini-Ardanio, 90 km long, which will be operational after 1 November 2015.
In addition, there will be toll stations along five vertical axes, namely:
- Ieropigi (between Ieropigi-Kristalopigi), the paid zone being Argos Orestiko-Kristalopigi, 36 km long, which will be operational after 1 January 2016.
- Aliakmonas (between Mikrokastro and Aliakmonas), the paid zone being Kastoria (Western Siatista)-Argos Orestiko, 36 km long, which will be operational after 1 January 2016.
- Evzoni (between Polikastro and Evzoni), the paid zone being Gefira (Agios Athanasios)-Evzoni, 47 km long, which will be operational after 1 January 2016.
- Promahonas (between Roupel and Sinora), the paid zone being Levkonas-Promahonas, 47 km long, which will be operational after 1 April 2015.
- Strimoniko (between Riziana and Strimoniko), the paid zone being Langadas-Levkonas, which will be operational after 1 January 2016.

Another ministerial decision will determine the toll amount for cars per kilometre that can be equal to the value "determined in sections of highways in the country, which are under concession agreement."

"This adjustment can be implemented by the eventual concessionaire, otherwise the current procedure will apply. In every case, the toll charge for cars (category M) cannot be lower than 0.03 euro per kilometre, rounded up to the next higher number," reads the decision.

The toll on other categories of vehicles will be calculated based on the toll for category M, multiplied by a factor of 0.7 euro for cars category L, 2.5 euro for cars category N and 3.5 euro for cars category O.

"The complete toll system on Egnatia highway will be gradually introduced in 2017. Initially, the toll stations that serve the periphery of Thessaloniki, Kavala and Ioannina will start operating, using a special system of proportional taxation (rebate), a method in which the charging of the vehicles that have a transceiver will be proportional and consumers will pay a fee only for the distance travelled by them", reads the ministerial decision.

Tolls are imposed "in order to pay for the cost of construction of the highway and to ensure its operation, improvement and expansion", concludes the decision.

Meanwhile, Minister of Infrastructure Michalis Chrysochoidis commented on the changes in question before the parliamentary commission on state enterprises during the presentation of the new head of Egnatia Odos SA, Giorgos Skordas. "Amphipolis is located 25 km away from the toll station", he said in connection with the construction of such a station between Asprovalta and Kerdilia instead of near Rendina, as originally planned.

"In Egnatia every year we have revenue of 38 million euro, costs to the amount of 68 million euro and a loan of 180 million euro. Therefore, we must decide what to do, who will pay for the maintenance of the highway. Currently Egnatia needs 70 million euro for a more serious maintenance in order for it to be a safe highway. The construction of the toll stations requires funds, i.e. we need to invest a lot of money in order for the highway to be safe and profitable", said the Minister of Infrastructure.

"It is impossible for pensioners, people who do not use the highway, those who are unable to travel, in addition to health, education and protection of vulnerable groups in the country, to pay for another public good, namely for the use of roads, and for trucks and cars not to pay for it. Our act of today, namely the proportional charging, has restored justice", concluded Michalis Chrysochoidis.