Gov't considering four or five options for building of e-toll system
The government is considering four or five options for building Hungary's electronic e-toll system following the recent withdrawal of the only company to submit a valid bid in the tender called for the project, Government Spokesman András Giró-Szász said on a commercial-television program on Thursday evening.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Monday that the government would build the electronic toll-system "under its own authority", after tender winner Getronics Magyarorszag, withdrew from the project on January 19.
Giró-Szász said that the government discussed the matter in a first reading at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, and will come to a conclusion regarding the project at a future cabinet meeting.
The Prime Minister, the economy and the development ministers all made it clear that the current situation will not cause any program regarding the 2013 budget, that is, the system will be launched this year, Giró-Szász said.
The deadline for launching the e-toll system is July 1. This year's budget targets HUF 75bn in revenue from the e-toll system during the second half of this year.
Giró-Szász said that the government had made no decision regarding whether it will call another tender for the project .."as it has not made a decision yet on what option to choose".
The spokesman added, however, that "The government decided that it does not want to repeat the farce that took place in connection with the company that won the tender then decided not to undertake it and will solve the problem itself using its own resources."
The Hungarian unit of Dutch information- and communications-technology company Getronics, declared the winner of the State Motorway Management Company's tender to build the system in December, cited pressure from a competitor on the company's sub-contractors as the reason for its withdrawal.
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