DUSHANBE, July 13, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- I support introduction of toll fees on the Dushanbe-Chanak highway because practice has shown that only such measures will promote maintenance of our roads at proper level, Prosecutor General Sherkhon Salimzoda stated at a news conference in Dushanbe on July 13.

“Several years ago, the country’s government rehabilitated the highway from Dushanbe to Qurghon Teppa due to foreign loans and grants,” said the chief prosecutor, “However, this highway is now in a poor state again because of being abandoned.”

Salimzoda is sure that assessment by a government commission that recently audited the activities of the company and fount its activities legal meets requirements of the country’s legislation.

As far as activities of Road Innovative Solutions (IRS) that operates the toll road are concerned,  Salimzoda said, “When there are no such companies inside country itself, foreign companies come to market.”  He added that the toll payment problems must be settled in compliance with the country’s legislation.

We will recall that the Dushanbe-Chanak highway was recently upgraded by Chinese companies and paid for with a $280 million loan from China.  The Tajik government decided that in order to repay the loan to China, a toll would be collected for using the road starting on April 1.