Astana, 4 November, . Toll road fares in Russia, Belarus and Uzbekistan are two to five times higher than in Kazakhstan, while foreign carriers here pay practically nothing, deputy transport minister Maxat Kaliakparov said at a Government briefing.
“Our carriers pay two to five times more there, while foreign carriers here pay practically nothing,” the vice minister said. A working group has been set up to study international practice, he said; it will also deal with raising fares, but state support measures will be provided for domestic carriers. The ministry does not expect the costs to be passed on to the price of goods carried.
The vice minister did not say by how much fares will rise; the measures, he said, will be introduced in stages.
What it means: The ministry has explained the logic of the increase in public for the first time: foreign lorries should pay more first of all, while domestic ones are promised support.
Who benefits: The budget and the toll road operator, which will collect more from transit, and domestic carriers if state support is real; its forms have not been named.
Background: In the morning BES.media reported the transport ministry’s plan to raise fares in 2027–2029 by up to 30% for cars and up to 50% for lorries over 10 tonnes.
We have also reported on the plan to raise toll fares.
