The low-emission zone (LEZ) for cars in Sofia comes into force from today with an extended scope, which imposes restrictions on the movement of motor vehicles from the first and second ecogroups, dariknews.bg reported.
The ban on entering the center of the capital is aimed at improving air cleanliness and will be valid during the winter months – from 1 December 2024 until February 28, 2025 – and was adopted by decision of the Metropolitan Municipal Council at the end of 2022.
The restricted area, i.e. called “small ring”, covers the territory between the boulevards “Vasil Levski”, “Patriarch Evtimii“, “Gen. Skobelev“, “Slivnitsa“ and st. “Military”. The border boulevards are not part of the zone itself, and the passage of all vehicles is allowed on them without restriction, and signposts will help drivers to find their way in traffic.
The ban will not apply to cars whose owners have a permanent address in the zone or are disabled persons who have a preferential parking card issued by the Municipality of Sofia or by another municipality in Bulgaria.
To control compliance with the restrictions, the Metropolitan Municipality relies on cameras located at the outer points of the Little Ring and specialized software that will automatically check the relevant databases to establish the environmental group and ownership of each car. Violations will be enforced according to Art. 41a and Art. 41b of the Air Purity Act, and the acts will be issued by the Metropolitan Inspectorate, and the fines start from BGN 50 for individuals or a property sanction in the amount of BGN 200.
In Sofia, five buffer parking lots have been built at metro stops, where the "park and ride" service can be used, which saves time and inconvenience for the residents and guests of Sofia. The parking lots are at the metro stations “James Boucher“, “Tsarigradsko shosse“, “Vasil Levski“ and two at the “Beli Danube“ metro station.
The actions of the Metropolitan Municipality aim to improve the quality of the atmospheric air in Sofia, as part of the mission "Sofia without emissions", and are in implementation of the "Ordinance on the creation of zones with low emissions of harmful substances in the atmospheric air" on the territory of the Metropolitan Municipality“, adopted by the Metropolitan Municipal Council at the end of 2022
Low emission zones are one of the most effective measures cities can take to improve air quality. As a result of their introduction, emissions of fine dust particles (FPC2.5, FPC10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and (indirectly) ozone (O3) are reduced. These are the three main air pollutants that cause health problems worldwide. The low-emission zone in Sofia is one of nearly 400 in Europe, and by 2025 my count is expected to exceed 500.