Ring roads

Police in the Greek capital arrested two suspects in the early hours of Friday after they allegedly robbed a jewelry store in Artemida, eastern Attica, by ramming a car through the window and grabbing any valuables they could get their hands on.

A seven car pile up on Attiki Odos highway, northern Athens, on Friday morning caused a major traffic jam during rush hour.

The crash happened on the airport-bound side of the highway near the Marousi junction ring road which lasted for about an hour.

A seven car pile up on Attiki Odos highway, northern Athens, on Friday morning caused a major traffic jam during rush hour.

The crash happened on the airport-bound side of the highway near the Marousi junction ring road which lasted for about an hour.

The Infrastructure Ministry has ruled out the funding of any extension of the Attica ring road (Attiki Odos) through the extension of the current concession contract, as the operating consortium wants.

The ministry argues that any project related to the privately run highway will be included in the tender concerning the period after the expiry of the existing contract.

Prices will not be raised in Greece, according to the company that manages Attiki Odos highway. We recall that after the announcement of the increase, many drivers, as well as New Democracy, which was in opposition, reacted sharply against this decision.

Attiki Odos SA, the company that manages the Attica ring road, said Wednesday it will freeze a planned hike to toll charges following talks with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.
Infrastructure and transport Minister Kostas A. Karamanlis welcomed the decision saying that increasing the toll fees would be "socially unjust."

Attiki Odos SA, the company that manages the Attica ring road, has agreed to freeze a planned hike to toll charges until the end of the year after calling a truce with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

The ministry, in turn, has held back a bill prepared by the previous government halting the raise until the motorway's concession is re-examined.

For construction conglomerate Ellaktor, a rise in the tolls of the Attiki Odos ring road around Athens is crucial if it is to restructure a significant bank loan on more favorable terms.

The increase in tolls on the capital's Attiki Odos ringroad appears to be a matter of political will, as the rise announced in June - but prevented by the previous government - was dictated by the operating company's need to secure the projected capital returns until the expiry of the concession contract in 2024.

Transport authorities have announced that charges will be waived for motorists at key tollgates to allow voters to reach their constituencies for the snap general election on Sunday while shipping firms, intercity rail services and airlines will be offering discounts.