The state bought land valued at 31 million from the family of the former minister for a quarter of a billion.

Prague – The state Directorate of Roads and Motorways (ŘSD) has purchased land originally valued at approximately 31 million from the company Xaverov trade, owned by the family of former Minister of Agriculture Miroslav Toman (ČSSD), for a quarter of a billion crowns. The land is to be used for the construction of a section of the Prague Ring Road near Prague-Běchovice. In the case of construction of transport and other infrastructure, the linear law allows for the payment of land up to eight times the price determined by an appraiser's report. This is evident from information in the Contract Register, which was highlighted today by the website Zdopravy.cz.

The ŘSD will pay about 250.7 billion crowns for the land in the cadastre of Prague's Běchovice, covering over 125,000 m². This corresponds to approximately eight times the price determined last year by an appraiser's report, which amounted to approximately 31.3 million. A section of the Prague Ring Road, numbered 511, is planned to run above this land, connecting the D1 motorway and the Hradec Králové motorway.

"This is a joint land purchase with the capital city related to compensatory measures, so-called green belts, based on a memorandum that was concluded," said ŘSD spokesman Jan Studecký to Zdopravy.cz.

According to earlier information, the sale of land around section 511 to the Prague City Hall will also yield another 109.5 million crowns for Toman's family companies. The companies Xaverov trade and Agrotrade, which involve members of the former minister's family, will sell over 116,000 m² of land to the city. On this land, a so-called green belt and noise barrier are to be created around the Prague Ring Road. The purchase was approved by Prague councilors last October.

It is still unclear when the construction of this section of the Prague Ring Road will begin. The Ministry of Transport is awaiting a decision from the South Bohemian regional office, which is addressing the appeal regarding the zoning decision for section 511. This part of the Prague Ring Road measures over 12 kilometers and is planned to have four grade-separated interchanges. The construction will also include two tunnels that will connect both motorways. The entire Prague Ring Road measures about 80 kilometers, with approximately half currently in operation.