The Comptroller General of the Republic, Carlos Hernán Rodríguez, issued a warning regarding the the effect that not applying the pending adjustment this year would have on finances in the toll rates charged by the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) and the National Roads Institute (Invías).
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According to the official, if it is not authorized “promptly” the increase corresponding to 50% of the increase that remains to be implemented on the CPI for the year 2023, that is, 4.64%, lThe impact in 2024 due to the price freeze would reach $410 billion.
The amount would be added to the $610 billion that came from 2023, so the Government would have to pay close to $1 billion to fill the gap created by this measure.
“Who has to assume the costs of the resources that do not come in due to the freezing of tolls? The Nation. In other words, all Colombians end up paying for these compensations with our taxes, even if we do not use the roads,” Rodriguez warned.
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The Government would have to pay $1 billion for the freezing of toll rates. The Comptroller @CarlosHernanR1 He warned that if an adjustment is not authorized promptly, the impact in 2024 would reach $410 billion, which would be added to the $610 billion in 2023. pic.twitter.com/KrofWZMIdo
— Office of the Comptroller General (@CGR_Colombia) August 22, 2024
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When will prices go up?
It should be remembered that on August 1, 2024, ANI and Invías toll prices increased by 4.64%. The figure comes from dividing in two the increase pending for the toll booths, which corresponds to the inflation of 2023, which was 9.28%, so half of it still remains to be applied.
In this regard, the Minister of Finance, Ricardo Bonilla, stated in recent statements that this increase would come into effect in 2025 and that the Government’s decision will be announced between December of this year and January of next year.
“In December and January it will obviously be necessary to review how tolls are increased for 2025,” explained the head of the portfolio.
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