Ministry of Transport explains the establishment of dense BOT toll stations

Regarding the 96 BOT toll stations that have been and will be operating on national highways, the leader of the Ministry of Transport affirmed that they have complied with the regulations of the Ministry of Finance and have the consensus of the localities.

The report of the Ministry of Transport sent to the Prime Minister on May 20 said that on national highways, there are 96 toll stations that are being and will be deployed from now until 2018. Of these, 83 stations are under contracts signed by the Ministry of Transport with BOT investors, and 13 stations are implemented by the People's Committees of provinces.

Following the Government’s direction on promoting cooperation in the form of public-private partnership (PPP) and investment without using state budget capital to mobilize resources for infrastructure, the Ministry of Transport has implemented 68 transport infrastructure projects in the form of BOT. Of which, 20 projects have been completed and put into operation, ensuring quality and shortening the investment progress of the projects.

Toll stations on National Highway 1 and National Highway 14 will apply the non-stop toll collection system. Photo: D.Loan

Upgraded and newly built routes have shortened the time for transporting goods and passengers, bringing benefits to users such as Noi Bai - Lao Cai expressway, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay expressway, helping to reduce travel time by 50% and costs by 30%.

National Highway 1, Hanoi - Vinh section, has reduced travel time by about 30% and costs by 20%; National Highway 14, Gia Lai province section, brings in about 244 billion VND in benefits each year, while revenue from road tolls is about 167 billion VND; National Highway 14, Dak Nong province section, brings in about 104 billion VND each year, while tolls are about 79 billion VND. The Co Chien bridge project helps shorten the distance from Tra Vinh to Ho Chi Minh City by 70 km...

According to the 2014 World Economic Forum (WEF) report, the capacity and quality of Vietnam's transport infrastructure ranked 74th, up 16 places compared to 2012 and up 29 places compared to 2010.

To attract infrastructure investment, the state has a mechanism to ensure the harmony of interests of the state, investors and users through toll collection on BOT routes. In case toll stations do not ensure a minimum of 70 km on the same route, the Ministry of Transport must agree with the provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Finance from the time of investment project preparation and site survey to select a suitable location, in accordance with regulations of the Ministry of Finance.

When the project is completed, the Ministry of Finance will issue a toll collection circular applicable to each BOT toll station for investors to implement. Therefore, the leaders of the Ministry of Transport affirmed that the establishment of BOT toll stations has complied with the regulations of the Ministry of Finance and has the consensus of the relevant localities.

On May 19, the Government Office said that Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has requested the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance to review and report to the Prime Minister on the issue of press reports on unreasonable toll collection and arrangement of toll stations.

Previously, some opinions reflected the unreasonable toll collection and arrangement of toll stations, such as the nearly 60 km section of National Highway 14 through Gia Lai with two toll stations at Km1610+800 and Km1667+470. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance stipulates that the distance between two stations on a route is at least 70 km.

According to VOV