Turkey’s seven-month road toll revenue over $224 million

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

Turkey has earned over $225 million from toll roads in seven months. HÜRRİYET photo

Turkey earned 486 million Turkish liras ($224.5 million) from the two bridges over the Bosphorus in Istanbul and toll roads in the first seven months of 2014, according to data released by the General Directorate of Highways (KGM) on Aug. 19.

The Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, which connect Europe and Asia, together yielded 134 million liras ($62 million), while toll highways across Turkey earned 352 million liras ($162.6 million). Over 140 million vehicles used highways in the first seven months of the year.

Drivers must pay 4.25 liras ($2) as a toll fee to cross the two bridges over the Bosphorus. Vehicles with more than two axles pay a higher pro-rated toll rate.

Over the course of 2013, 360 million vehicles used the two bridges and toll roads across Turkey, paying a total of 789.7 million liras ($361 million).

Transportation Minister Lütfi Elvan had said more than 9 million vehicles illegally passed through toll bridges and highways in 2013.