Hungarian government to remove asbestos‑contaminated roads

Government spokesperson Anita Köböl said the solution to the problem of roads built with asbestos‑containing stone aggregate is to dismantle and safely remove those roads. The material becomes hazardous when it is porous and can release fibers into the air; officials advise against breaking up or simply covering such private roads. The plan is to lift the contaminated material for safe disposal and to apply the "polluter‑pays" principle, meaning the party responsible for the contamination will bear the cost.

Köböl also noted that if any concealment of information is proved, Austrian authorities must investigate the matter to protect Hungarian citizens. In the same briefing she touched on other government initiatives, including reviews of private‑equity transparency, education system centralisation, railway safety after a recent locomotive fire, and a forthcoming law on the agricultural chamber, but the primary focus was the asbestos‑road removal programme.