Tohoku trucks' toll-free spree ends

The government plans to terminate the toll-free benefit for large vehicles, mainly trucks, in the disaster-hit Tohoku region at the end of August because many trucks have abused it, official sources said Friday.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will continue to make expressways in the area free to individuals carrying certificates showing they are survivors of the March 11 earthquake-tsunami disaster or evacuees from the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, the sources said.

In late June, the ministry made expressways in the region toll-free for such individuals and trucks carrying cargo to disaster-hit areas to help with reconstruction.

Under the measure, tolls are exempted for trucks exiting the toll-free section of expressways.

Many trucks that were going beyond the toll-free section exited within the section to avoid paying tolls. The toll-free measure started in late June on more than 20 expressways.

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