North-South expressway toll expected to be 1,500 VND/km

According to the Government's proposal submitted to the National Assembly for approval at this session, the expected starting toll price on the North-South Expressway when completed and put into operation is 1,500 VND/km, equal to the toll price currently collected on the Noi Bai-Lao Cai Expressway.

According to Mr. Nguyen Danh Huy, Director of the Public-Private Partnership Department (PPP - Ministry of Transport), based on the provisions of the Law on Prices, to ensure compensation for construction investment costs and capital recovery, the toll price for the North-South Expressway is about 2,500 VND/standard car/km, corresponding to a capital recovery period of about 24 years.

However, this price at the time of starting exploitation is quite high, beyond the users' ability to pay, difficult to attract vehicles, so it is ineffective. Therefore, applying a fee of 1,500 VND/km will be suitable for the people's ability to pay at the time of starting exploitation. After that, the specific price will be calculated for each payback period.

The expressway section from Da Nang to Quang Nam, part of the North-South expressway, has just been put into use.

Specifically, the proposed service price framework during the business operation period (about 24 years): Phase 2021 - 2023 (1,500 VND/km), phase 2024 - 2026 (1,700 VND/km), phase 2027 - 2029 (1,900 VND/km), phase 2030 - 2032 (2,100 VND/km), phase 2033 - 2035 (2,400 VND/km), phase 2036 - 2038 (2,700 VND/km), phase 2039 - 2041 (3,000 VND/km), phase 2042 - 2044 (3,400 VND/km).

Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Transport Association, said: With a starting price of VND1,500/km, the North-South Expressway projects will certainly attract a large number of vehicles to participate in traffic, due to the convenience and superior safety of the expressway.

Currently, on National Highway 1 there are many BOT toll stations. If comparing the price for the same distance, traveling on the highway may cost more, but it saves travel time, increases transport capacity, is safer, saves fuel costs, and reduces machine wear compared to National Highway 1. Vehicles will certainly still choose the highway to travel.

According to Mr. Mai Tuan Anh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), the expressways invested, managed and operated by VEC include: Cau Gie - Ninh Binh, Noi Bai - Lao Cai, Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay, Da Nang - Quang Ngai (Da Nang - Tam Ky section) are collecting from 1,500 - 2,000 VND/km.

These are not the only routes, so users can choose. So far, there has been no feedback from drivers about the fares on these highways. This shows that the starting price of 1,500 VND/km is reasonable.

According to Hanoi Moi Newspaper