The guarantee that the money collected from the expansion of the blue and green zones and the increase in parking fees will build infrastructure is the creation of a program through which the funds will be spent. Every year, the funds that come from local parking and fines will go directly to the Sofia Municipality and 50% of them will go to the area from which they came. The other 50% are for the municipality and all will be spent on projects
This was explained to journalists by the chairman of the Sofia Municipal Council (SOS), Tsvetomir Petrov, BTA specified.
He attended the protest at the "Chavdar" bridge from "Vladimir Vazov" Blvd., where those gathered are demanding the withdrawal of the changes in the Regulation on the organization of traffic on the territory of the Sofia Municipality, which expand parking zones in Sofia and increase prices and subscriptions for them. There is a reinforced police presence in the area.
When asked by BTA how it will be guaranteed that the money will be used specifically for infrastructure, and not for something else, Petrov replied that the regional municipality will make proposals to the Sofia Municipality and they will be approved. The money will go per site, and not for maintenance for the area, and the district mayors will not have free disposal of it, he added.
I was against including the "Poduyane" area in particular, I think that this is an extreme area, there are too many "mud points" for people to start paying to park in them. We undertake that we will work actively as quickly as possible to make the "mud spots" normal for parking. It is absolutely unacceptable for people to pay to park in the mud, said Petrov.
According to him, the reform is extremely necessary, and not only the increase in prices and the size of the zones, but the reform that provides the opportunity for a large part of the money to be controlled and go to improving the neighborhoods. According to him, it is clear that the prices are not up to date. He assured that he understands the people. It should be clear that it has nothing to do with our entry into the eurozone, he added.
When asked by journalists what will happen to the other residential neighborhoods in which the zones are being expanded, such as “Iztok“, “Izgrev“ and “Studentski grad“, he replied that the first two are in many times better condition than “Hadzhi Dimitar“ and “Poduyane“. “Iztok“ and “Izgrev“ were a fairly serious buffer, surrounded by different zones, and the pressure for parking was quite high, Petrov explained.
“Studentski grad“ is another neighborhood that is overcrowded by different cars from different cities. There is also a serious problem there and I don't think it's a mistake. It's more of a mistake that “Musagenitsa“ and “Darvenitsa“ are not zones, because they will become buffers, but in time they may be made there too, Petrov believes.